minime
[ˈmɪ.nɪ.meː]
The Latin phrase for "surely not" is minime.
minime is used to express complete disagreement or a strong way of saying no. It functions as an emphatic negation.
What does it mean word for word?
The term minime is the adverbial form of a negative particle and literally means "in the least bit" or "not at all".
Which one should you use?
While the word non is used for a simple negation (meaning "not"), minime is used for emphatic negation, meaning "not at all" or "certainly not".
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adverb, minime is used to intensify a negative response or to express the absolute absence of a quality.
Did you know?
- The word minime is the root of the English word 'minimum'. Both come from the Latin minimus, meaning 'smallest'.
- While modern English uses 'not at all' as a polite response to 'thank you', using minime in a similar social context in ancient Rome would have sounded much more forceful and dismissive than a polite refusal.
Examples in context
- MinimeSurely not
- Minime, hoc non fieri potest.Surely not, this cannot happen.
- Vellesne me te iterum adiuvare? Minime!Would you want me to help you again? Surely not!
- Minime, non sum concordus cum eo.Surely not, I do not agree with him.
Example conversation
Lucius and Julia are discussing a strange rumor.
- LuciusVisne credere hanc fabulam, Julia?Do you want to believe this story, Julia?
- JuliaMinime, Luci! Hoc est absurdum.Surely not, Lucius! This is absurd.
- LuciusSed omnes id dicunt.But everyone is saying it.
- JuliaNon curo quid dicant.I do not care what they say.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry minime, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries minime, CC BY-SA 4.0.
