не
ne[nɛ]
The English word 'no' is translated into Macedonian as не (ne).
The word не is the most common and straightforward way to say 'no' in Macedonian. The particle не is used to negate verbs and is equivalent to the English 'not'.
Meaning: used to show disagreement or negation (particle)
How do you pronounce it?
ne
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistake the negation particle не for a standalone word for 'no' in a way that ignores the required verb structure in Macedonian.
When do people say it?
The word Извинете means 'I'm sorry'.
Did you know?
- In traditional Macedonian hospitality, saying не to a second or third offering of food or drink is sometimes seen as overly polite, and the host may continue to insist until a firmer negation is used.
- The particle не is etymologically related to the English word 'neither', as both traces back to the same Proto-Indo-European root.
- Macedonian uses a 'double negative' construction where не is paired with words like никој or ништо to reinforce the negation, which is grammatically required rather than a mistake.
Examples in context
- О не, тој е!Oh no, it's him!This sentence shows the use of не in an exclamation.Tatoeba #4382911 by Lepotdeterre, translation #4381905 by Hybrid
- Тоа не е лага.That's no lie.This sentence demonstrates how не negates the verb.Tatoeba #4155803 by Lepotdeterre, translation #3722408 by CM
- О не, пак таа.Oh no, it's her again.This sentence shows не used in an exclamation.Tatoeba #4382910 by Lepotdeterre, translation #4381906 by Hybrid
- 951 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Marko and Marija are talking about whether they should go out in the rain.
- Марко MarkoДали сакаш да излеземе сега?Dali sakash da izlezeme sega?Do you want to go out now?
- Марија MarijaНе, врне премногу надвор.Ne, vrne premnogu nadvor.No, it is raining too much outside.
- Марко MarkoМожеби ќе престане скоро.Mozebi kje prestane skoro.Maybe it will stop soon.
- Марија MarijaНе мислам дека ќе престане.Ne mislam deka kje prestane.I don't think it will stop.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry не, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries не, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
