nicht
not
The German word for 'not'. It negates verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and sometimes nouns. It usually comes after the verb or before the word it negates.
Heard in real German videos
Lines where nicht was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Du weißt nicht, wer ich bin.You don't know who I am.
- Das ist eben nicht bloß ein Brocken.It's simply not just a chunk.
- Ist das nicht absolut super?Isn't that absolutely great?
Example sentences
- Ich verstehe nicht.I don't understand.
- Das ist nicht gut.That is not good.
- Er kommt heute nicht.He is not coming today.
- Nicht ich habe das gesagt.It wasn't me who said that.
Common phrases
- nicht mehrno longer, not anymore
- noch nichtnot yet
- gar nichtnot at all
- nicht nur ... sondern auchnot only ... but also
- überhaupt nichtnot at all, absolutely not
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often place 'nicht' before the verb, as in English, but in German it usually comes after the verb or before the element it negates. For example, say 'Ich weiß nicht' not 'Ich nicht weiß'.
Don’t confuse it with
- kein — 'kein' negates nouns (like 'no' or 'not a'), while 'nicht' negates verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
Questions learners ask
Where do I put 'nicht' in a German sentence?
Usually after the conjugated verb and before the element you want to negate. If negating the whole sentence, it often goes at the end.
What is the difference between 'nicht' and 'kein'?
'nicht' negates verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, while 'kein' negates nouns (like 'no' or 'not a').
How do I say 'not yet' in German?
Use 'noch nicht'. For example: 'Ich bin noch nicht fertig.' (I'm not ready yet.)