Learn Spanish (Latin America): Eso no es cierto en absoluto.

Eso no es cierto en absoluto.

That is not true at all.

Breakdown of Eso no es cierto en absoluto.

Questions & Answers about Eso no es cierto en absoluto.

Why does en absoluto mean 'at all' here instead of 'absolutely'?

In Spanish, the phrase en absoluto is used almost exclusively in negative contexts to add emphasis, translating to 'at all' or 'whatsoever'. While it looks like the English word 'absolutely', using it by itself (like answering a question with ¡En absoluto!) actually means 'Absolutely not!' or 'Not at all!'

Why do we use eso here instead of ese or esa?

We use the neuter pronoun eso because 'that' refers to an abstract concept, a situation, or a statement someone just made. You only use ese or esa when referring back to a specific masculine or feminine noun, like a car or a house.

Since this lesson is about scalar focus adverbs, could I use ni siquiera here instead?

You could, but it changes the flavor of the sentence. Eso ni siquiera es cierto translates to 'That isn't even true.' You would use ni siquiera to show surprise or escalation (for example, if a rumor is not only damaging but also completely fabricated). Our sentence with en absoluto simply emphasizes the degree of falsehood: 'That is not true at all.'

If I move en absoluto to the start of the sentence, do I still need the no?