Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| nein | /naɪ̯n/ | standard |
| nee | /neː/ | colloquial |
| nö | [nøː] (narrow) | colloquial |
The particle is used to express disagreement or to negate a statement. When you want to express that something did not happen or is absent, you might use the word Fehlanzeige, which translates roughly to "that's a miss" or "nothing doing".
Which one should you use?
While nein is the standard form, you may hear the colloquial alternatives nee and nö in casual conversation. The noun Nein refers to the expression of negation itself.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
nein is the standard form. In everyday spoken German, people often use the colloquial alternatives nee or nö.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
It is important to distinguish between the particle and the determiner. While nein is used to answer a question with a negative, the words kein, keine or keinen are used to mean "not any" or "no" when negating a noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/naɪ̯n/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use nein to negate a noun, such as saying Ich habe nein Geld. Instead, you must use kein to mean "no" or "not any" in the sense of "no money" (Ich habe kein Geld).
Did you know?
- While nein is a direct refusal, Germans may use doch to say 'no' in a way that contradicts a negative question. This word acts as a 'negative-yes' that English has no single equivalent for.
- In German culture, a firm nein is often perceived as more honest and respectful than a hesitant 'maybe' or a polite 'I'll try', which can be seen as misleading.
- The German word nein and the English word 'none' share the same ancient ancestor. Both evolved from a combination of a negative particle and the word for 'one'.
Examples in context
- Ist das ein nein?Is that a no?This sentence is useful for identifying the word nein.Tatoeba #6625738 by Felixjp, translation #2549769 by CK
- O nein, nicht der!Oh no, it's him!This sentence shows the use of nein in an exclamation.Tatoeba #4405067 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #4381905 by Hybrid
- Ich sage nie nein.I don't ever say no.This sentence demonstrates how to use nein in a sentence.Tatoeba #11824569 by Naina, translation #3822019 by CK
- Das ist kein Problem.That is not a problem.
- Ich möchte keine Milch.I do not want any milk.
- Er hat keinen Hunger.He is not hungry.
- 1113 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Felix are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- LukasMöchtest du heute Pizza essen?Would you like to eat pizza today?
- JuliaNein, ich möchte lieber Pasta.No, I would prefer pasta.
- LukasHast du auch keine Lust auf Pizza?Do you also not feel like having pizza?
- JuliaNein, heute absolut nicht.No, absolutely not today.
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.
