nö
[nøː]
The German word for the English phrase 'nah' is nö.
nö is used as an interjection to mean 'no'. In informal conversation, you might also use the phrase Echt nicht to emphasize disagreement or doubt or the colloquial expression Vergiss es to express a dismissive attitude.
Meaning: no (intj)
Which one should you use?
While nein is the standard, neutral way to say 'no' in German, nö is much more casual and often used in spoken conversation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
nö is an informal and colloquial way to say 'no', making it an equivalent to the English 'nah' or 'nope'.
Did you know?
- While nö is the casual 'no', Germans often use the word doch to contradict a negative statement, a concept for which English has no single-word equivalent.
- The word nö is often accompanied by a specific facial expression where the lips are rounded and pushed forward, mimicking the shape of the vowel itself.
- While nö is used across Germany, it is especially iconic in the Berlin dialect and the urban slang of the capital.
Examples in context
- „Die Schuhe, die du da trägst, sind das nicht meine?“ – „Nö, die sehen nur so aus.“ – „Na klar sind das meine! Sofort ausziehen!“"Those shoes you're wearing aren't they mine?" "Nah. They just look like 'em." "'Course they're mine! Take them off, now!"This example shows how to use nö when someone is being questioned about whether an item belongs to them.Tatoeba #12485028 by Waldelfe, translation #12780880 by sundown
Example conversation
Hannah and Felix are discussing their weekend plans at home.
- Hannah„Gehst du heute Abend aus, Felix?“Are you going out tonight, Felix?
- Felix„Nö, ich bleibe lieber hier.“Nah, I'd rather stay here.
- Hannah„Komm schon, das wird bestimmt lustig!“Come on, it will surely be fun!
- Felix„Nein danke, ich bin zu müde.“No thanks, I am too tired.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry nö, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
