How to Say "No" in Ukrainian - How To Say Guide

ні

ni[nʲi]

The English word 'no' is translated as ні in Ukrainian.

The particle ні is used to show disagreement or negation.

Meaning: used to show disagreement or negation (particle)

Which one should you use?

ні is a particle used to answer a question or express disagreement, whereas the particle не is used to negate a verb or an adjective.

When ні is used as a standalone answer to a question, it is often followed by a comma in written Ukrainian.

English speakers often mistakenly use ні to negate a verb (e.g., saying ні знаю instead of не знаю), but ні is only for the standalone answer 'no'.

The word ні is used in the common Ukrainian expression ні в зуб ногою, which literally means 'not with a foot in the tooth' to describe someone who knows nothing about a subject.
In some colloquial contexts, Ukrainians might answer a question with та ні, which literally means 'yes no' but actually functions as a softer or more conversational 'no'.
The Ukrainian word ні is a direct cognate of the English word 'no', as both descend from the same Proto-Indo-European root.

Ні, я не знаю.
No, I don't know.
Tatoeba #548482 by aandrusiak, translation #66782 by orcrist
Ні, це не кіт.
No, it is not a cat.
Tatoeba #5227480 by deniko, translation #5228517 by solejar
Ні, я не хочу.
No, I don't want to.
Tatoeba #6886378 by deniko, translation #1981493 by Spamster
Ні, дякую, я втомлений. Може іншим разом?
No, thank you, I'm tired. Maybe another time?
964 more sentences on Tatoeba

Olena and Oleksandr are deciding what to eat for dinner.

Олена Olena

Олександре, ти хочеш піцу на вечерю?
Oleksandre, ty khochesh pitsu na vecheryu?
Oleksandr, do you want pizza for dinner?
Олександр Oleksandr

Ні, я не голодний.
Ni, ya ne holodnyy.
No, I am not hungry.
Олена Olena

А як щодо салату?
A yak shchodo salatu?
How about a salad?
Олександр Oleksandr

Це було б чудово.
Tse bulo b chudovo.
That would be great.

Sources

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