nein
/naɪ̯n/
The German word for 'nay' is nein.
In a literary or rhetorical context, nein can be used as an interjection meaning 'or rather' to correct or intensify a previous statement, rather than just functioning as the word for 'no'.
Meaning: or rather (adv)
How do you pronounce it?
/naɪ̯n/
When do people say it?
When declining an offer or invitation, you can say Nein, danke. to mean 'no, thank you'. To add a touch of regret to a negative response, you can use Leider nein. For a more elaborate and polite way to express refusal, you might say Ich muss leider ablehnen, which means 'I have to decline, unfortunately'.
Did you know?
- The German nein is actually a contraction of two words, 'ni' and 'ein', which originally meant 'not one'.
- Unlike in some cultures where a smile or a nod might be used to soften a refusal, a direct nein in Germany is typically viewed as a sign of honesty rather than rudeness.
- In many German dialects, people use a shortened nee instead of nein in casual conversation. While nein is the standard form, nee is the most common way to say 'no' in everyday speech across much of the country.
Examples in context
- Sie hätte zugegeben, dass sie Anne mochte, nein dass sie Anne sehr lieb hatte. Aber als sie jetzt wie wild den Abhang heruntereilte, da erkannte sie, dass ihr Anne mehr bedeutete als alles andere auf der Welt.She would have admitted that she liked Anne–nay, that she was very fond of Anne. But now she knew as she hurried wildly down the slope that Anne was dearer to her than anything else on earth.This sentence shows how nein can be used to intensify a statement, functioning as 'or rather'.Tatoeba #5834991 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #5833842 by Hybrid
- Nee, danke. Ich bin schon satt.No, thanks. I'm already full.
- Ich muss leider ablehnen, da ich bereits andere Verpflichtungen habe.I have to decline, unfortunately, as I already have other commitments.
Example conversation
Sarah and Lukas are discussing their travel plans.
- SarahWir fahren im Juni, oder?We're going in June, right?
- LukasNein, nein, eigentlich im Juli.No, or rather, actually in July.
- SarahIch dachte, der Juni wäre besser.I thought June would be better.
- LukasJa, aber Juli ist billiger.Yes, but July is cheaper.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry nein, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nein, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
