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bjd10:36 UTC19 Dec 2007

Is there any difference between 'jamàs' and 'nunca' in Spanish? Style? Region?

thankyou

lady_j17:37 UTC19 Dec 2007

From my understanding (not a native speaker) they are essentially the same, but 'jamas' might be a bit "stronger" or emphatic, kind of like 'never ever'.

kamo17:42 UTC19 Dec 2007

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#1 is right. They can even go together: Nunca jamás.

lady_j18:03 UTC19 Dec 2007

Somewhat related: one of my favorite Spanish love songs is Jamás by Camilo Sesto. You have to listen to it to understand how epic and cheesy it is. But you can see how dramatic he is being about "jamás" here. Not just never. JAMAS.

Que no me falte tu cuerpo jamás, jamás.
Ni el calor de tu forma de amar, jamás...
Ni la ternura de tu despertar,
Que no me falte jamás.

Que tu cariño no sea fugáz, jamás.
Sin tí no habría encontrado esta paz, jamás,
Que me da calma y acaricia mi alma,
Que no me falte jamás...

Jamás, jamás, he dejado de ser tuyo,
Lo digo con orgullo,
Tuyo nada más.
Jamás, jamás, mis manos han sentido,
Más piel que tu piel,
Porque hasta en sueños te he sido fiel.

No dejaré de quererte jamás, jamás,
No dejarás de quererme jamás, jamás,
Con un amor sin cadenas, ni edad,
Que no me falte jamás...

Jamás, jamás, he dejado de ser tuyo,
Lo digo con orgullo,
Tuyo nada más.
Jamás jamás, mis manos han sentido,
Más piel que tu piel,
Porque hasta en sueños te he sido fiel.

Que no me falte tu cuerpo jamás, jamás.
Tus risas ni tus silencios jamás, jamás.
Que no me falten tus besos jamás,
Que no me falte tu cuerpo jamás...

opanki19:18 UTC21 Dec 2007

Am I wrong? I have the feeling that in the meaning "never" jamas usually relates to the future, while nunca can be used for both. If used for the past jamas means "ever, anytime". Like "El helicóptero más grande jamás construido" - the biggest helicopter ever built.

kamo08:59 UTC22 Dec 2007

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I think you got the answer yourself. "El helicóptero más grande jamás construido" refers to something in the past. "Jamás" is the same as "Nunca".

opanki20:53 UTC23 Dec 2007

Kamo, in this sentence jamas refers to the past, but in the meaning of "ever", not "never". Could you say "El helicóptero más grande nunca construido" and keep the same meaning ? I don't think so, but I'm not a native speaker.
If you can't - they are not the same.

kamo10:02 UTC25 Dec 2007

--
Yes, you can say "El helicóptero más grande nunca construido".

cubisssism_02122:50 UTC31 Dec 2007

"One Cow would never ever fly." La vaca nunca (jamas) puede volar. This sentence has better sentence if is use "Jamas" just it is that an animal never ever fly

siemprepatty21:40 UTC03 Jan 2008

I wonder if it is a regional thing. I have studied Spanish off and on for only 2 years from Cuban, Colombian and Mexican teachers, and have never heard them use "jamas."

I don't believe it has to do with the past at all, however, mainly because of the Chilean (?) slogan:

El pueblo, unido, jamas sera vencido --- "will never be defeated" is past present and future in this instance.

Jamas vs nunca Interest forums / Speaking in Tongues
bjd10:36 UTC19 Dec 2007	Is there any difference between 'jamàs' and 'nunca' in Spanish? Style? Region? thankyou
lady_j17:37 UTC19 Dec 2007	From my understanding (not a native speaker) they are essentially the same, but 'jamas' might be a bit "stronger" or emphatic, kind of like 'never ever'.	1
kamo17:42 UTC19 Dec 2007	-- #1 is right. They can even go together: Nunca jamás.	2
lady_j18:03 UTC19 Dec 2007	Somewhat related: one of my favorite Spanish love songs is Jamás by Camilo Sesto. You have to listen to it to understand how epic and cheesy it is. But you can see how dramatic he is being about "jamás" here. Not just never. JAMAS. Que no me falte tu cuerpo jamás, jamás. Ni el calor de tu forma de amar, jamás... Ni la ternura de tu despertar, Que no me falte jamás. Que tu cariño no sea fugáz, jamás. Sin tí no habría encontrado esta paz, jamás, Que me da calma y acaricia mi alma, Que no me falte jamás... Jamás, jamás, he dejado de ser tuyo, Lo digo con orgullo, Tuyo nada más. Jamás, jamás, mis manos han sentido, Más piel que tu piel, Porque hasta en sueños te he sido fiel. No dejaré de quererte jamás, jamás, No dejarás de quererme jamás, jamás, Con un amor sin cadenas, ni edad, Que no me falte jamás... Jamás, jamás, he dejado de ser tuyo, Lo digo con orgullo, Tuyo nada más. Jamás jamás, mis manos han sentido, Más piel que tu piel, Porque hasta en sueños te he sido fiel. Que no me falte tu cuerpo jamás, jamás. Tus risas ni tus silencios jamás, jamás. Que no me falten tus besos jamás, Que no me falte tu cuerpo jamás...	3
opanki19:18 UTC21 Dec 2007	Am I wrong? I have the feeling that in the meaning "never" jamas usually relates to the future, while nunca can be used for both. If used for the past jamas means "ever, anytime". Like "El helicóptero más grande jamás construido" - the biggest helicopter ever built.	4
kamo08:59 UTC22 Dec 2007	-- I think you got the answer yourself. "El helicóptero más grande jamás construido" refers to something in the past. "Jamás" is the same as "Nunca".	5
opanki20:53 UTC23 Dec 2007	Kamo, in this sentence jamas refers to the past, but in the meaning of "ever", not "never". Could you say "El helicóptero más grande nunca construido" and keep the same meaning ? I don't think so, but I'm not a native speaker. If you can't - they are not the same.	6
kamo10:02 UTC25 Dec 2007	-- Yes, you can say "El helicóptero más grande nunca construido".	7
cubisssism_02122:50 UTC31 Dec 2007	"One Cow would never ever fly." La vaca nunca (jamas) puede volar. This sentence has better sentence if is use "Jamas" just it is that an animal never ever fly	8
siemprepatty21:40 UTC03 Jan 2008	I wonder if it is a regional thing. I have studied Spanish off and on for only 2 years from Cuban, Colombian and Mexican teachers, and have never heard them use "jamas." I don't believe it has to do with the past at all, however, mainly because of the Chilean (?) slogan: El pueblo, unido, jamas sera vencido --- "will never be defeated" is past present and future in this instance.	9

Jamas vs nunca