German Phrases
    No in German · with audio

    No in German: Nein, Nicht, Kein, and the Casual Nee

    No

    Nein

    No in German is Nein. It is the answer to a yes-or-no question, and it is the same in formal and informal speech. In everyday conversation you will also hear Nee and Nö, which are relaxed spoken forms, and if you want to refuse something politely, Nein, danke is the phrase.

    The word most learners mix up with Nein is nicht, which means "not" inside a sentence, and kein, which means "no" before a noun. The list below has all of them with examples, plus the softer ways to say no, and the pronunciation. Every phrase has audio.

    Ways to say no in German

    Nein is the answer word. Nicht and kein are the negation words inside a sentence. The rest are softer or more casual ways to refuse, which matter because a bare Nein can sound hard.

    GermanEnglishListen
    Nein

    The standard answer to a yes-or-no question

    		No
    Nee

    Informal spoken form, very common

    		Nah, nope
    Nö

    Very casual, between friends

    		Nope
    Nein, danke

    Turning down an offer politely

    		No, thank you
    Leider nicht

    A soft no to a request

    		Unfortunately not
    Lieber nicht

    Declining a suggestion

    		I would rather not
    Nicht wirklichNot really
    Auf keinen Fall

    A strong no. Literally "in no case"

    		No way
    NiemalsNever
    Nicht

    Negates a verb or adjective: Ich komme nicht (I am not coming)

    		Not
    Kein / Keine

    Negates a noun: Ich habe keine Zeit (I have no time)

    		No, not a, not any

    Softening a no

    A short Nein can sound abrupt. Germans are direct, but they still add a reason or a thank you when they refuse. These are the phrases that go around the no.

    GermanEnglishListen
    Nein, danke, ich bin satt.

    Refusing more food

    		No, thank you, I am full.
    Nein, tut mir leid.

    Refusing a request

    		No, I am sorry.
    Leider habe ich keine Zeit.Unfortunately I have no time.
    Das geht leider nicht.Unfortunately that is not possible.
    Vielleicht ein anderes Mal.Maybe another time.
    Ich glaube nicht.I do not think so.
    Eher nicht.

    A gentle no

    		Probably not.

    Example sentences

    • Nein, das ist nicht richtig.

      No, that is not right.

    • Möchtest du noch etwas trinken? Nein, danke.

      Would you like another drink? No, thank you.

    • Ich habe kein Auto.

      I do not have a car.

    • Ich verstehe das nicht.

      I do not understand that.

    • Kommst du morgen? Nee, ich muss arbeiten.

      Are you coming tomorrow? Nah, I have to work.

    • Kannst du mir helfen? Leider nicht, ich bin gerade unterwegs.

      Can you help me? Unfortunately not, I am out right now.

    Good to know

    Nein, nicht, or kein?

    Nein answers a question and stands alone: Kommst du? Nein. Nicht negates a verb, an adjective, or a whole sentence: Ich komme nicht (I am not coming), Das ist nicht teuer (That is not expensive). Kein negates a noun and replaces ein or no article: Ich habe kein Geld (I have no money), Das ist keine gute Idee (That is not a good idea). English uses "no" and "not" for all three, so the choice takes practice.

    Kein changes its ending

    Kein follows the same pattern as ein: kein Mann, keine Frau, kein Kind, and in the accusative keinen Mann. In the plural, where ein does not exist, keine still does: Ich habe keine Kinder (I have no children).

    Nee and Nö are for friends

    Nee is what most Germans actually say in relaxed conversation, and it is fine with colleagues you know well. Nö is more casual still and can sound a little dismissive. With a stranger, an official, or in writing, use Nein.

    Nein is not nine

    The number nine is neun, pronounced "noyn". Nein is pronounced "nine". English speakers hear the number, Germans hear the word for no. If you order nine of something, say neun clearly.

    Answering a negative question

    When a question already contains nicht or kein, Nein agrees with the negative. Hast du keine Zeit? Nein means "no, I have no time". To say the opposite, "yes, I do have time", use Doch, not Ja.

    Practice with flashcards

    This phrase and 120 more as cards. See the English, say the German, flip to check. Free, no signup.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How do you say no in German?
    Nein, pronounced like the English word "nine". Nein, danke is the polite way to turn down an offer. In casual speech people often say Nee.
    What is the difference between nein, nicht, and kein?
    Nein is the standalone answer "no". Nicht means "not" and negates verbs and adjectives: Ich komme nicht. Kein means "no" or "not a" before a noun: Ich habe kein Auto.
    What does Nee mean in German?
    Nee is the informal spoken form of Nein, like "nah" or "nope" in English. It is very common in everyday conversation but too casual for formal situations or writing.
    How do you politely say no in German?
    Nein, danke for an offer, and Leider nicht (unfortunately not) or Das geht leider nicht (unfortunately that is not possible) for a request. Adding a short reason makes it softer.
    Does Nein mean nine?
    No. Nein means no and sounds like the English "nine". The German number nine is neun, pronounced "noyn".
    When do you use kein instead of nicht?
    Use kein when you negate a noun that would otherwise have ein or no article: kein Auto, keine Zeit, keine Kinder. Use nicht for everything else: nicht gut, nicht heute, ich weiß nicht.

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