null
/nʊl/
In German, null refers to the number that represents zero.
The word null represents the value zero. It is also used in the fixed legal idiom null und nichtig, which translates to 'null and void' to describe something that has no legal force or effect.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you use the word as a noun to mean 'the zero', it is a feminine noun and takes the article die, becoming die Null.
How do you pronounce it?
/nʊl/
Did you know?
- If you were to describe a person as 'eine Null', you would be calling them a 'nobody' or a total failure.
- The word null comes from the Italian nulla, which originated from the Latin feminine singular nulla, meaning 'no' or 'none'.
- In German football, the term Null-Null is used to describe a 'nil-nil' score. While English uses 'nil' or 'zero', Germans repeat the word null twice to indicate the score is tied at zero.
Examples in context
- Dieser Vertrag ist null und nichtig.This contract is null and void.This sentence shows how to use null within the legal idiom 'null und nichtig'.Tatoeba #9988945 by Yorwba, translation #7861634 by soliloquist
- Es gibt Leute, für die Null eine positive Zahl ist.There are people to whom null is a positive number.This sentence demonstrates the use of null to refer to the number zero.Tatoeba #1081006 by MUIRIEL, translation #1081052 by sacredceltic
- Die Temperatur beträgt null Grad Celsius.The temperature is zero degrees Celsius.
- Das Ergebnis ist null.The result is zero.
- Die Temperatur liegt heute bei Null Grad.The temperature is at zero degrees today.
Example conversation
Maximilian and Sarah are discussing a test score.
- MaximilianWie viele Fehler hast du gemacht?How many mistakes did you make?
- SarahIch habe null Fehler gemacht.I made zero mistakes.
- MaximilianDas ist ja unglaublich, Sarah!That is unbelievable, Sarah!
- SarahIch habe wirklich viel gelernt.I really studied a lot.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry null, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries null, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
