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negativo

negative

adjective neh-gah-TEE-boh Less Common
Descriptions & Qualities Quality

Origin: from Latin negativus

Usage Note

Negativo functions as both an adjective (resultado negativo) and, as a noun, a photographic negative (el negativo de la foto). In mathematics it describes numbers below zero. Note that a 'negative person' in the psychological sense is better rendered as pesimista or negativo depending on context; negativo is not a false friend of English 'negative' but learners sometimes overuse it where malo or desfavorable would be more idiomatic.

Examples

"El resultado de la prueba fue negativo."

Natural Translation

The test result was negative.

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