"De nada" means (literally) that there's nothing to be thankful about. "No hay nada que agradecer".

It's semantically similar to "not at all", but it can also be correctly translated to "You're welcome".

Answer from cgc on Stack Exchange
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/spanish › do spanish speakers think of "de nada" literally?
r/Spanish on Reddit: Do Spanish speakers think of "de nada" literally?
July 10, 2013 -

I've been wondering this for a while, “de nada” literally means “of nothing”, but in the mind of a Spanish speaker, is that “of nothing” really how they feel?

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I agree with chclau, that it is an established expression and we give no thought so much to the idea of "nothing." A good comparison I think is the English "You're welcome" For many Spanish speakers who are students of English, the literal translation of "You're welcome" is strange. In certain context, not so much. For example, "Thanks for inviting me!" -"you're welcome". But what about "Thanks for letting me know about the practice being canceled" "You're welcome!". I am welcome to what? To receive news about something being canceled? It seems strange in translation, and yet I think English speakers give little thought to the literal meaning of welcome. A simple nuance, here in Spain we use "nada" very often, sometimes in place of "de nada", but also if you bump in to someone and say excuse me. For example: "Gracias por el regalo" "Nada, es un gusto" or When you bump into someone, "Uy, perdón!" "Nada." This second phrase perhaps comes really from "No pasa nada." Nevertheless, we use all of the expressions quite in a natural way without much thought to the meaning of "nada", and yet it still, at times, does have this connotation of "It's nothing". Also, think about the expression English "Not at all." "Thanks for helping me with my homework" "Not at all!"
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To answer your question, sometimes it can literally mean "it was nothing", especially if the person feels that it really did not require much effort. At the same time it could also just be said as a habitual phrase. Think if it in the sense that it would be similar to someone in English saying "your welcome". Sometimes they really mean it, and other times, it's just a habitual phrase that you respond after hearing "thank you". Or if you say "thank you" and the person responds "my pleasure", there's a good chance it really was a pleasure for that person to help you. There are numerous Spanish ways to say "thank you" in Spanish, besides what's mentioned in the other comments. "Por favor" is one that comes to mind, especially in Argentina. For example "Gracias por llevarme a la oficina", the response would be simply "por favor" which implies something like "please, it was nothing". "No fue nada", literally "it was nothing", is another option. "¿De que?", translated as "for what? would be another. "No hay porque", "there is no reason" (to say thank you). "Como no", "of course" "Fue un gusto (placer), "it was a pleasure" which can also be said without incluiding "fue" so it would be "un gusto (placer)"
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Spanish and Go
spanishandgo.com › learn › 15-different-ways-to-say-youre-welcome
Don’t Say “De Nada” [15 Ways to Say You’re Welcome in Spanish] - Spanish and Go
When someone helps you with something and then you say “Oh, gracias”, the other person can say “no es nada”. This is also very casual. When one says “muchas gracias por tu ayuda”, you can respond with “oh, está bien”. This is a very easy and simple way of saying you’re welcome in Spanish. You can also say no se preocupe, for a more formal setting which means “no worries” or “don’t worry”.
Discussions

modismos - Why is "De nada" used as a response to "Gracias"? - Spanish Language Stack Exchange
De means "of", and nada means "nothing", so why, when put together, are they used in response to Gracias? More on spanish.stackexchange.com
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August 7, 2012
traducción - What is the difference between "De nada" and "No hay de qué"? - Spanish Language Stack Exchange
I am learning Spanish and ran across "De nada" and "No hay de qué". Both mean "You're welcome". What's the difference? More on spanish.stackexchange.com
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What is the difference between De nada and No pasa nada ?
Synonym for De nada @nikki_jules "De nada" is used when you give help to a person, and he or she thanks you, and to finish you say "De nada" it's basically the equivalent of "You're welcome" "No pasa nada" means that's everything is under control, and nothing bad happens!|@nikki_jules De nada, ... More on hinative.com
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April 1, 2020
If ‘De Nada’ directly translates to ‘Of Nothing’, how would you literally say ‘You’re Welcome’?
The problem is when a person literally translates, for you need to understand the intent. De nada becomes roughly it's nothing, and your welcome could be con gusto (with pleasure). The intent is what is important. More on reddit.com
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June 23, 2024
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DeepL
deepl.com › en › translator › q › es › de+nada › en › you're+welcome › cdfd4b49
de nada - translated from Spanish to English
Deliver accurate, enterprise-grade translations with pro features like Glossaries, Rules, Clarify and more.
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Quora
quora.com › In-Italian-what-is-the-meaning-of-de-nada
In Italian, what is the meaning of 'de nada'? - Quora
Answer (1 of 15): First off, my dad is Italian and I feel very tight with my Italian traditions and values. I don't mean to be aggressive, but NEVER confuse Spanish with Italian, especially in Italy. I understand people make mistakes, but since I'm not an Italian living in Italy, as arrogant and ...
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Quora
quora.com › How-do-you-say-de-nada-in-English
How to say 'de nada' in English - Quora
Answer (1 of 7): De nada is the answer to thank you in Spanish. In English, the most common way to say that would be “You’re welcome!” However, there are other ways to express this idea: No problem!
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SpanishDictionary.com
spanishdict.com › spanishdictionary.com › translate › de nada
Check out the translation for "de nada" on SpanishDictionary.com!
Gracias por ayudarme. - De nada. Tú hubieras hecho lo mismo por mí.Thank you for helping me. - Don't mention it.
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Dictionary.com
dictionary.com › browse › de-nada
DE NADA Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
December 5, 2025 - First recorded in 1910–15; from Spanish: literally, “of nothing;” de ( def. ), nada ( def.
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YouTube
youtube.com › shorts › Y5qqcO8aT_k
Stop saying "DE NADA" every time | Learn Spanish - YouTube
Stop saying "DE NADA" every time | Learn Spanish
Published   September 4, 2025
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PROMT.One
online-translator.com › translation › spanish-english › nada de nada
"nada de nada" in English | Spanish to English Translation - PROMT.One
Translate "nada de nada" from Spanish to English, nothing at all, . See word usage in contexts, conjugation and declension.
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Pinterest
pinterest.com › pin › de-nada-meaning-what-does-de-nada-mean--612067405632046254
"De Nada" Meaning, Origin and Examples • 7ESL
July 8, 2023 - Discover the meaning and origins of "de nada," a key Spanish phrase, and learn how to use it effectively in various contexts to enhance your Spanish communication skills.
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Quora
quora.com › What-does-de-nada-mean-Is-this-the-standard-response-to-gracias
What does 'de nada' mean? Is this the standard response to 'gracias'? - Quora
Answer (1 of 11): De nada means “you’re welcome”. Other ways to say, “de nada” could be “no es pasa nada”, which means “it was nothing” or pretty much “you’re welcome”. You would use that when referencing something you’ve ...
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Quora
quora.com › What-is-the-correct-translation-of-the-Spanish-phrase-de-nada
What is the correct translation of the Spanish phrase 'de nada'? - Quora
Answer (1 of 5): As others have mentioned, it literally translates as "of nothing", meaning "it was nothing", or in other words "you're welcome"in response to someone else saying "gracias", "thank you".
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YouTube
youtube.com › shorts › xZuSihBtFNQ
Don't Always Say "De Nada" | Learn Spanish - YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
Published   March 26, 2023