nul
/nʏl/
The English phrase 'zero' is translated into Dutch as nul.
nul is the cardinal number before 1, denoting nothing. It can also be used as a noun meaning 'nothing' or 'none'. Additionally, the phrase op nul zetten means 'to set to zero'.
Meaning: cardinal number before 1, denoting nothing (num)
Which one should you use?
While nul is used for the cardinal number zero, geen is used to express 'zero' in the sense of 'none' or 'not any' when modifying a noun (e.g., 'geen calorieën' instead of 'nul calorieën' in many contexts).
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/nʏl/
Did you know?
- In certain Dutch contexts, calling someone a nul is a way to describe them as a 'nobody' or a person of no importance.
- The Dutch word nul shares an ancestral lineage with the English word 'null', which is used to describe something that is void or has no legal force.
- In Dutch colloquialisms, van nul af aan beginnen means 'to start from scratch', literally translating to 'starting from zero'.
Examples in context
- Nul is een even getal.Zero is an even number.Tatoeba #13706838 by doemaar14, translation #13701547 by araneo
- Water heeft nul calorieën.Water has zero calories.Tatoeba #7802274 by MarijnKp, translation #4502850 by CK
- Het is zes graden onder nul.It's six degrees below zero.Tatoeba #8704174 by Ag12x, translation #2280194 by _undertoad
- Het totale aantal deelnemers is nul.The total number of participants is zero.
- Er zijn geen fouten gevonden.No errors have been found / Zero errors have been found.
- Ik heb nul/noppes/nada interesse in dat programma.I have zero interest in that program.
- Hij heeft niks bijgedragen aan het project.He has contributed nothing to the project / He has contributed zero to the project.
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sophie and Noah are checking a inventory list.
- SophieHoeveel appels zijn er nog?How many apples are left?
- NoahEr zijn er nul.There are zero.
- SophieDat is erg jammer.That is a great pity.
- NoahIk ga nu naar de winkel.I am going to the store now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “zero” translations and entries nul, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nul, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
