Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| nein | /naɪ̯n/ | standard |
| nee | /neː/ | colloquial |
| nö | [nøː] (narrow) | colloquial |
The term is used as a particle to show disagreement or negation. While nein is the standard form, you might also encounter kein, which is a determiner used to mean 'not any'.
Which one should you use?
English speakers often mistakenly use nein to negate nouns, but kein must be used instead when the meaning is 'no' or 'not a' in the sense of 'not any'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
nein is the standard form. For everyday spoken German, nee is a common colloquial alternative. If you want to be very informal, nö serves as a clipped version similar to the English 'nope'. If you need to politely refuse an invitation or an offer, you can use the phrase Leider nicht, which means 'unfortunately not'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of southern Germany or Austria, Naa may be used as a colloquial way of saying 'no'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as a noun meaning 'the act of saying no', the word is capitalized as Nein.
How do you pronounce it?
/naɪ̯n/
When do people say it?
In informal conversations, you can use Vergiss es to say 'forget it' or 'never mind' to suggest dropping a subject.
Did you know?
- In some contexts, Germans use ja ('yes') to actually mean 'no'. This often happens in a phrase like Ja, glaube ich nicht, where the 'yes' simply acknowledges the question before the negation.
- The German nein and the English 'no' are distant cousins. Both evolved from an ancient phrase meaning 'not one'.
- In German culture, a 'no' is often more direct than in English. A simple nein without a softening phrase like leider can seem blunt or rude to an English speaker.
Examples in context
- Ist das ein nein?Is that a no?This sentence asks if a specific word is a 'no'.Tatoeba #6625738 by Felixjp, translation #2549769 by CK
- O nein, nicht der!Oh no, it's him!This sentence expresses a reaction of 'oh no'.Tatoeba #4405067 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #4381905 by Hybrid
- Ich sage nie nein.I don't ever say no.This sentence is useful for saying that one never says 'no'.Tatoeba #11824569 by Naina, translation #3822019 by CK
- Können Sie mir bitte bei diesem Projekt helfen? / Nein, tut mir leid, ich bin schon zu beschäftigt.Can you help me with this project, please? / No, I'm sorry, I'm already too busy.
- Könnten Sie mir bitte etwas Geld leihen? / Das tut mir leid, aber ich kann Ihnen kein Geld leihen.Could you lend me some money, please? / I'm sorry, but I can't lend you any money.
- Würden Sie gerne zu unserer Party kommen? / Leider nicht, ich habe bereits Pläne für den Abend.Would you like to come to our party? / Unfortunately not, I already have plans for the evening.
- Willst du mit mir ins Kino gehen? / Nö, danke.Do you want to go to the movies with me? / No, thanks.
- Sollen wir morgen früh aufstehen und wandern gehen? / Auf keinen Fall! Ich stehe nicht gerne früh auf.Should we wake up early tomorrow and go hiking? / Under no circumstances! I don't like getting up early.
- Kannst du mir bei meiner Hausarbeit helfen? / Vergiss es, ich habe selbst viel zu tun.Can you help me with my essay? / Forget it, I have a lot to do myself.
- Machst du bei der Veranstaltung mit? / Naa, keine Lust.Are you participating in the event? / Nope, not feeling like it.
- Sollen wir uns bei diesem Regenwetter draußen treffen? / Nix da, das ist viel zu ungemütlich.Should we meet outside in this rainy weather? / No way, that's way too uncomfortable.
- 1113 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah asks Maximilian if he wants some cake.
- SarahMöchtest du ein Stück Kuchen, Maximilian?Would you like a piece of cake, Maximilian?
- MaximilianNein, danke. Ich bin schon satt.No, thank you. I am already full.
- SarahBist du sicher? Er schmeckt wirklich gut.Are you sure? It really tastes good.
- MaximilianJa, nein danke.Yes, no thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no” translations and entries nein, nee, nö, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nee, nein, nö, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
