Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| ничего́ | ničevó |
| ничто́ | ništó |
The word is used to express the absence of any thing. In colloquial speech, ничего́ can also function as a standalone response meaning 'it's nothing', 'no problem' or 'don't worry about it'.
Which one should you use?
The form ничто́ is used in formal, literary or philosophical contexts, whereas ничего́ is the standard form for everyday speech.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
ничего́ is the genitive case form of ничто́ and is the most common way to say 'nothing' in spoken language. Note that when using this word, you must use a double negative. For example, to say 'I see nothing', you must use a negative verb such as 'Я ничего не вижу'.
How do you pronounce it?
ničevó
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often forget that Russian uses double negatives. To say 'I see nothing', you must use a negative verb: 'Я ничего не вижу'.
Did you know?
- Depending on the tone, ничего́ can be used as a compliment to mean 'not bad' or 'quite good'. If someone asks how you like a meal and you reply ничего́, you are actually praising it.
- Russian has a specific word ничто́жество, derived from ничто́, which describes a person who is a 'nobody' or a 'worthless wretch'. It transforms the abstract concept of 'nothing' into a stinging personal insult.
- If someone asks how you are doing, responding with ничего́ does not mean you are feeling empty or void, but rather that things are 'not bad' or 'okay'.
Example sentences for Russian are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nothing” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
