How to Say No in German
How do you say no in German? Say 'Nein' (nine). Learn casual 'Nö' and 'Ne,' polite refusals, the difference from 'kein,' and pronunciation tips.
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Quick answer
To say no in German, say 'Nein' (pronounced like the English number 'nine'). It works in every situation, formal or informal. Casual spoken variants include 'Nö' (nuh) and 'Ne' (neh). To politely refuse something, say 'Nein, danke' (no, thank you).
Nein
/nine/ — German
How to Say No in German
Knowing how to say “no” clearly is just as important as saying yes. In German, the word is Nein — and conveniently, it’s pronounced exactly like the English number “nine.” Pair it with how to say yes in German to handle agreeing and declining in any conversation.
The Essential Word: Nein
Nein — pronounced nine (like the number) — is your all-purpose German no.
It works everywhere: formal and informal, spoken and written, with strangers and friends. The German vowel combination ‘ei’ always sounds like the English long ‘i,’ so Nein rhymes perfectly with “nine.”
Copy the Phrase
The German word for no is Nein (nine).
All the Ways to Say No in German
| German | Pronunciation | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Nein | nine | Universal no — any situation |
| Nö | nuh | Casual “nope” |
| Ne / Nee | neh | Very common informal “nah” |
| Nä | neh | Regional casual no |
| Nein, danke | nine DAHN-keh | ”No, thank you” (polite refusal) |
| Auf keinen Fall | owf KINE-en fahl | ”No way” / “absolutely not” |
| Niemals | NEE-mahls | ”Never” |
| Leider nicht | LY-der nikht | ”Unfortunately not” |
| Nicht | nikht | ”Not” (negates verbs/adverbs) |
| Kein | kine | ”No / not any” (negates nouns) |
Nein vs. Kein vs. Nicht
This trips up many learners, so here’s the clean version:
- Nein = “no” as an answer. “Kommst du mit?” → “Nein.” (Are you coming? → No.)
- Kein = “no / not any” before a noun. “Ich habe kein Geld.” (I have no money.)
- Nicht = “not,” negating verbs, adjectives or adverbs. “Das ist nicht gut.” (That is not good.)
Rule of thumb: answer with Nein, negate a noun with kein, and negate everything else with nicht.
Formal vs. Informal
Nein itself is neutral and works in all registers. What shifts is the casualness of the variants:
- Casual: Nö (nope), Ne / Nee (nah). Extremely common in everyday speech but too informal for business emails or addressing strangers respectfully.
- Neutral/formal: Nein, and the polite Nein, danke or Nein, vielen Dank.
- Emphatic: Auf keinen Fall (no way), Niemals (never), Auf gar keinen Fall (absolutely no way at all).
Pronunciation Tips
- Nein: Just say the English number “nine.” The ‘ei’ = long ‘i.’
- Nö: The ‘ö’ is a rounded front vowel — round your lips as if to say “oh” but try to say “eh.” Roughly “nuh” for English speakers.
- Nicht: The “ch” after ‘i’ is a soft hissing sound made near the front of the mouth — “nikht,” not “nikt.”
Cultural Notes
Germans value directness, so a plain Nein is normal and not considered rude the way a blunt “no” might feel in some cultures. To soften a refusal, add danke (thanks) or leider (unfortunately): Nein, leider nicht (“no, unfortunately not”) sounds considerate. In casual conversation, you’ll hear Ne? tacked onto the end of sentences as a tag question, like “right?” or “isn’t it?” — that’s a different, friendly use of the word.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say no in German?
No in German is 'Nein,' pronounced exactly like the English number 'nine.' It's the universal answer for declining, disagreeing, or refusing, and works in both formal and informal settings. Casual versions are 'Nö' and 'Ne.'
How do you pronounce Nein in German?
'Nein' is pronounced just like the English word 'nine' — 'nine.' The German 'ei' always sounds like the English long 'i' (as in 'eye' or 'mine'). So it's 'n' + 'eye' = nine.
What is the difference between Nein and Kein in German?
'Nein' means 'no' as an answer to a question. 'Kein' (kine) means 'no/not any' before a noun — 'Ich habe kein Geld' = 'I have no money.' Use 'Nein' to answer, and 'kein' to negate a noun inside a sentence.
How do you say no casually in German?
Casual spoken ways to say no include 'Nö' (nuh, a relaxed 'nope'), 'Ne' or 'Nee' (neh, very common in conversation), and 'Nä' in some regions. These are informal — fine with friends but too casual for formal or professional situations, where you'd use 'Nein.'
How do you politely say no in German?
To refuse politely, say 'Nein, danke' (no, thank you) or 'Nein, vielen Dank' (no, many thanks). To decline an offer gracefully you can say 'Leider nicht' (unfortunately not) or 'Das geht leider nicht' (that unfortunately won't work).