non
/non/
The Italian word for 'not' is non.
non is a versatile word used to make a sentence or a statement negative. It can be used to negate both verbs and adjectives.
Which one should you use?
In English, you often use auxiliary verbs like 'do' to form a negative, such as in 'I do not know'. In Italian, you simply place non directly before the verb.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Veneto region, locals may use no followed by verb conjugations instead of non to express negation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word non is placed directly before the verb it is negating.
How do you pronounce it?
/non/
Did you know?
- The Italian word non is an exact twin of the Latin word nōn, meaning it has remained virtually unchanged for over two thousand years.
- In casual speech, a person might add mica after a verb to emphasize a negation, effectively changing 'not' to 'not at all'.
- While non is the standard way to negate a verb, the word no is often used as a standalone answer to a 'yes or no' question.
Examples in context
- Ma non è lì.But you're not there.This sentence shows how to use non to negate a location.Tatoeba #3010949 by Guybrush88, translation #53546 by CK
- Non è a casa.He's not home.Tatoeba #1948219 by Guybrush88, translation #1310853 by donkirkby
- Io non lo so.I do not know.This sentence shows how to use non to negate a verb.Tatoeba #2391792 by Guybrush88, translation #3378136 by _undertoad
- Non capisco.I don't understand.
- Non sono interessato.I am not interested.
- Non vado.I'm not going.
- 18314 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Alessandro are talking about a restaurant.
- SofiaNon ti piace questo ristorante?Don't you like this restaurant?
- AlessandroNo, non mi piace affatto.No, I don't like it at all.
- SofiaPerché non ordini una pizza?Why don't you order a pizza?
- AlessandroNon ho fame adesso.I am not hungry right now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry non, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries non, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
