nooit
/noːit/
The English word "never" is translated into Dutch as nooit. Wiktionary also lists nimmer.
Meaning: at no time (adv)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA |
|---|---|
| nooit | /noːit/ |
| nimmer | /ˈnɪ.mər/ |
Both nooit and nimmer mean "at no time". If you want to express the specific sense of "never again", you should use the phrase nooit meer.
Which one should you use?
While nooit is the standard word for "never", nimmer is a more formal or literary alternative.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the West Flemish dialect, the phrase nooit ofte nimmer means "never ever".
How does it change in a sentence?
In Dutch, nooit typically follows the finite verb in a main clause, similar to English, though its position can vary depending on emphasis.
How do you pronounce it?
/noːit/
Did you know?
- The formal word nimmer is a combination of a negation and the word immer, which means 'always'.
- The word nimmer is so strongly associated with old-fashioned texts that using it in a casual conversation often sounds like a joke or a theatrical performance.
- Because Dutch word order is flexible, placing nooit at the very beginning of a sentence can make your 'never' sound much more aggressive or emphatic than in English.
Examples in context
- Ik geef nooit op.I never give up.This sentence is useful for showing the use of nooit in the context of not giving up.Tatoeba #610444 by martinod, translation #257174 by CK
- Ik doe dit nooit.I never do that.This sentence demonstrates how to use nooit to express that an action is never performed.Tatoeba #9167370 by Nylez, translation #2388071 by CK
- De bus kwam nooit.The bus never came.This sentence shows how nooit describes an event that failed to occur.Tatoeba #8006475 by MarijnKp, translation #2973734 by Hybrid
- Ik zal nooit liegen tegen mijn baas.I will never lie to my boss.
- Ik heb géén enkele keer mijn huiswerk niet gemaakt.I never didn't do my homework, not even once.
- Ze zal dat nooit ofte nimmer aan me vragen.She will never ever ask me that.
- 1503 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daan and Emma are talking about their travel plans.
- DaanGa je ooit naar Spanje?Are you ever going to Spain?
- EmmaNee, ik ga nooit naar Spanje.No, I am never going to Spain.
- DaanWaarom zeg je dat?Why do you say that?
- EmmaIk hou niet van de hitte.I do not like the heat.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “never” translations and entries nooit, nimmer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nimmer, nooit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
