nem
[ˈnɛm]
The English word "no" is translated into Hungarian as nem.
nem is a particle used to express disagreement or to negate a statement. It functions both as a standard way to say "no" in response to a question and as the primary adverb meaning "not" when placed before a verb.
Meaning: used to show disagreement or negation (particle)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In Hungarian, the particle nem is used to negate verbs. In contrast, if you wish to negate the existence of a noun, you should use nincs.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes mistakenly use nem to mean "none" or "nothing". To express those specific meanings, use semmi or nulla instead.
Did you know?
- In certain traditional contexts, a person might answer 'no' to a question meaning 'yes' if the question itself was phrased negatively.
- While nem negates a verb, the word nincs is actually a combination of nem and van (the word for 'is'), meaning 'no-is'.
- Hungarian allows for 'double negatives' in a way that feels natural, such as saying 'I don't know nothing' using nem and semmi to strengthen the negation.
Examples in context
- Már nem így van.It's no longer that way.Tatoeba #4293783 by bandeirante, translation #3717996 by karloelkebekio
- A holnap nem jó.Tomorrow's no good.Tatoeba #7022803 by H_Liliom, translation #2253783 by CK
- Hát még mit nem!No way!Tatoeba #7923674 by maaster, translation #2175 by CM
- Sajnálom, de nem tudok ráérni.I'm sorry, but I can't make it.
- Értem az igényét, de sajnos nem tudom teljesíteni.I understand your request, but unfortunately, I cannot fulfill it.
- Nem, köszönöm!No, thank you!
- Inkább nem.Rather not.
- 1446 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gábor and Zsófia are discussing whether to go for a walk in the rain.
- GáborSétálunk a parkban?Shall we walk in the park?
- ZsófiaNem, esik az eső.No, it is raining.
- GáborDe én szeretnék.But I would like to.
- ZsófiaNem, maradjunk bent.No, let's stay inside.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no” translations and entries nem, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
