Introduction
When you say neither in English, you’re closing off two possibilities in one fell swoop—neither coffee nor tea, neither here nor there, or neither do I. It’s punchy, crystal-clear, and—let’s be honest—pretty satisfying. But in Tagalog, there’s no single magic word that maps exactly to neither. Instead, you weave together particles and constructions to deliver that same no-nonsense negation.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through: • How neither functions in English • The four main ways to express neither in Tagalog • Key fixed phrases (expressions figées) you’ll hear everywhere • Common pitfalls and how to dodge them • Practical, hands-on exercises
By the end, you’ll say ni… ni…, hindi rin, or wala sa… with authority—once and for all.
1. Mapping Out “Neither” in English
Before we dive into Tagalog, let’s nail down what neither does in English:
- As a conjunction “Neither A nor B” – Neither John nor Mary came to the party.
- As a pronoun “Neither of them” – Neither of the options works for me.
- As an adverb “Neither did I” – “I don’t like durian.” “Neither do I.”
Each role pivots on negating two elements. Tagalog matches that function—but with different tools.
2. Conjunction: “Neither A Nor B”
2.1 ni… ni… (the concise route)
This is your bread-and-butter when you want “neither A nor B.”
• Pattern: ni + A + ni + B • Add a negator—walang (there is no) or hindi (not)—at the front.
Example: “Neither coffee nor tea is available.” → Walang kape ni tsaa.
Example: “He’s neither tall nor short.” → Hindi siya matangkad ni pandak.
2.2 hindi… at hindi… (for emphasis)
When you want to stress each denial—like drawing a line in the sand—go wordier:
• Pattern: hindi + A + at + hindi + B
Example: “Neither she nor I knew the answer.” → Hindi siya at hindi rin ako ang nakakaalam ng sagot.
The extra at (“and”) and repeat of hindi feel warm and conversational— »perfect over a cup of tsokolate.
3. Pronoun: “Neither of Them”
Tagalog leans on wala (“there is none”) plus a phrase indicating the group:
• Pattern: Wala sa [group] ang [thing/person].
Example: “Neither of the two books is mine.” → Wala sa dalawang libro ang akin.
Swap dalawa for tatlo, apat, or any number.
• Neat twist: if you want to say “neither Peter nor Paul” in pronoun form, you can also say: → Wala sina Peter at Paul.
4. Adverb: “Neither Did I”
In English, you echo a negative statement with neither. Tagalog does that with hindi rin (or hindi din in some regions):
A: Hindi ko gusto ang maasim na mangga. B: Hindi rin ako. (“A: I don’t like sour mango. B: Neither do I.”)
If you want to repeat the verb for clarity:
A: Hindi siya sumagot kahapon. B: Hindi rin siya sumagot. (“He didn’t reply yesterday.” “Neither did he.”)
5. Fixed Phrases (Expressions Figées)
Here are some ready-made Tagalog bundles that revolve around “neither” or “not even”:
• ni hindi man — not even
Ni hindi man kumilos ang aso. (“Not even the dog stirred.”)
• ni… man… — a literary twist, akin to “not even”:
Ni luha man ay hindi tumulo. (“Not even a tear fell.”)
• ni wala pa — not even yet
Ni wala pa siyang maisip na sagot. (“He hasn’t even thought of an answer yet.”)
• walang kinalaman… ni… ni… — “neither… nor… matters/relates”:
Walang kinalaman ang presyo ni kalidad ni brand. (“Neither price nor quality nor brand matters.”)
These expressions figées let you slip into native-like flow—hit the nail on the head every time.
6. Idiomatic Twist: “Neither Here Nor There”
When you want to say “neither here nor there”—that something is irrelevant—Tagalog offers:
- Walang kwenta
- Wala sa usapan
- Hindi ‘yan ang puntoExample: “Your side-story is neither here nor there.” → Walang kwenta yung side story mo.
These idioms shift from literal location to importance—right on the money for debates.
7. Common Pitfalls
- Overstuffing ni… ni… • ❌ ni A ni B ni C (without commas)—confusing. • ✅ ni A, ni B, ni C (use commas).
- Mixing structures in one sentence • Don’t mash up ni… ni… with hindi… at hindi…—pick one style per sentence.
- Dropping “rin” in adverbial agreement • ❌ Hindi ako. • ✅ Hindi rin ako.
- Literal Taglish • ❌ “Neither ako nor ikaw.” • ✅ ni ako ni ikaw or hindi ako at hindi ikaw.
8. Practice Makes Perfect
• Rewrite these sentences in Tagalog:
- “Neither he nor she speaks Spanish.”
- “Neither of the choices works.”
- “I didn’t go to school.” “Neither did I.”
• Fill in the blanks:
- Wala sa ___ libro ___ aklat ____ tama.
- Ni hindi man ____ kumibo.
- Hindi siya at hindi rin ____ sumali.
• Role-play (with a friend): A: “Hindi ko na kaya ang traffic.” B: “________________.”
9. Handwritten-Style Flourishes
To give your notes that warm, personal feel—like you’re scribbling in a Moleskine—try:
— Italics for emphasis—ni… ni…, hindi rin — Em-dashes—for asides—“Use ni… ni…—it’s tight and clear.” — Uneven spacing—“ni siya ni ako” — Bullets that look like quick jots (•)
These tiny touches transform dry examples into a friendly chat.
Conclusion
“Neither” may feel like a small word, but it packs big meaning—and Tagalog handles it with a toolkit of particles and phrases. Whether you choose ni… ni…, hindi rin, wala sa…, or a jazzy idiom like walang kwenta, you’ll express “neither” with confidence and clarity. So go ahead—give those sentences a spin, tweak them, and before long you’ll deliver that neat, no-ambiguous neither in Tagalog—smooth as silk.
