null
/nʊl/
The English word 'nil' is translated into German as null.
The most common and universal translation for 'nil' in German is null. You can use nichts to mean 'nil' when referring to a complete absence or lack of something. When indicating 'zero' in a quantitative sense, German speakers often use kein followed by the appropriate noun to convey the meaning of 'not a single' or 'none'.
Meaning: zero (in sports) (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing a score of one-nil, the preposition zu (to) is used between the numbers, such as Eins zu Null. The phrase Vier-zu-Null-Klatsche uses the score as a compound noun to describe a heavy defeat.
How do you pronounce it?
/nʊl/
Did you know?
- In German, null can be used as a slang term to describe a person who is a total failure or useless, similar to calling someone a 'zero' in English.
- The term Vier-zu-Null-Klatsche turns a score into a single compound noun, where Klatsche literally means a 'slap'.
- The German word null is a direct descendant of the Italian nulla, which in turn came from the Latin word for 'none'.
Examples in context
- Eins zu Null! Die Rovers gehen mit einem hervorragend erarbeiteten Tor in Führung!One-nil! Rovers open the scoring with an exquisitely worked goal!This sentence shows how to use null when announcing a score.Tatoeba #12184559 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #12133979 by sundown
- Tom hat einen wichtigen Ball abgefangen, als seine Mannschaft die Eins-zu-Null-Führung verteidigte.Tom made an important interception as his team defended their one-nil lead.This sentence illustrates the use of null when describing a team defending a lead.Tatoeba #11497905 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10119650 by sundown
- City gastierte am 2. Weihnachtstag bei den Rovers und musste eine Vier-zu-Null-Klatsche einstecken.City went to Rovers on Boxing Day and got a four-nil hammering.This sentence demonstrates using a score as a compound noun with null to describe a heavy defeat.Tatoeba #12195289 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #12194803 by sundown
- Der Endstand des Spiels war null zu null.The final score of the game was nil-nil.
- Die Bemühungen führten zu nichts.The efforts led to nil/nothing.
- Bitte füllen Sie das Feld nicht aus. Lassen Sie es leer.Please do not fill out the field. Leave it blank/nil.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Lukas are watching a football match on TV.
- JuliaWie steht es gerade?What is the score right now?
- LukasEs steht Null zu Null.It is nil-nil.
- JuliaDas Spiel ist ja sehr langweilig.The game is very boring.
- LukasJa, bisher gab es kein Tor.Yes, there hasn't been a goal yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nil” translations and entries null, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries null, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
