It doesn't matter
Use this to mean 'it's no big deal' or 'don't worry about it,' especially after someone apologizes for a small mistake.
Means 'it's all the same' or 'it makes no difference.' Perfect for when you're indifferent about a choice between options.
This means 'don't worry.' It's a reassuring phrase often used in the same situations as 'it doesn't matter,' particularly in response to an apology.
—Sorry for being late. —It doesn't matter, the movie hasn't started yet.
—Oops, I spilled a little coffee! —It's no big deal, it's easy to clean.
Do you want to watch a comedy or an action movie? —It makes no difference, I like both.
—I'm sorry, I forgot to call you. —Don't worry, we can talk now.
'No importa' and 'No pasa nada' are universally understood and extremely common across all of Latin America.
'Da igual' is much more common in Spain than in Latin America. While understood elsewhere, it's a hallmark of Castilian Spanish for expressing indifference.
'No hay problema' is a very frequent alternative, used just as often as 'No importa' to mean 'no problem' or 'it doesn't matter'.
In informal conversation, you'll often hear 'No hay drama' ('There's no drama'), which is a colloquial way of saying 'it's not a big deal'.
Saying 'No materia'. — This is a direct word-for-word translation that doesn't work. 'Materia' means 'substance' or a 'subject' in school. The correct phrase is 'No importa'.
Confusing 'No importa' and 'No me importa'. — 'No importa' means 'It doesn't matter' (objective). 'No me importa' means 'I don't care' (subjective). Using 'No me importa' can sound rude or dismissive, so be careful to use the correct one for the situation.
Using 'Da igual' for an apology. — If someone says 'Sorry I'm late,' responding with 'Da igual' can sound cold, like 'I don't care either way.' It's better to use a more reassuring phrase like 'No importa' or 'No pasa nada'.
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