nie
never · never before, never yet
Nie means 'never' and is the most common way to express that something does not happen at any time. It is used in negative sentences and often appears with 'noch' to mean 'never before' or 'never yet'.
What nie means
- never — general negation of time; used in statements about things that do not happen at any time
- never before, never yet — with 'noch' to emphasize that something has not happened up to now
Heard in real German videos
Lines where nie was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Aber Edmund irrt sich eigentlich nie.But Edmund is practically never wrong.
- Ich war noch nie so am Boden zerstört.I have never been so devastated.
Example sentences
- Ich habe nie Zeit.I never have time.
- Er war noch nie in Berlin.He has never been to Berlin.
- Das werde ich nie vergessen.I will never forget that.
- Nie wieder!Never again!
Common phrases
- nie wiedernever again
- noch nienever before, never yet
- nie im Lebennever in my life, not on your life
- nie und nimmernever ever, not in a million years
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often confuse 'nie' with 'nicht' or 'kein'. Remember: 'nie' means 'never' (time), while 'nicht' means 'not' and 'kein' means 'no' or 'not a'. Use 'nie' only when you mean 'at no time'.
Don’t confuse it with
- nicht — Nicht means 'not' and negates a verb or adjective, while nie means 'never' and negates time.
- niemals — Niemals is a stronger, more emphatic synonym of nie, often used in formal or dramatic contexts.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between 'nie' and 'nicht'?
'Nie' means 'never' and refers to time, while 'nicht' means 'not' and negates a verb or adjective. For example: 'Ich gehe nie ins Kino' (I never go to the cinema) vs. 'Ich gehe nicht ins Kino' (I am not going to the cinema).
How do you use 'noch nie'?
'Noch nie' means 'never before' or 'never yet' and is used to say that something has not happened up to the present moment. It is often used with the present perfect tense: 'Ich war noch nie in Japan.' (I have never been to Japan.)
Can 'nie' mean 'ever'?
In questions, 'nie' can sometimes be translated as 'ever' when the question implies a negative expectation, e.g., 'Hast du nie daran gedacht?' (Have you ever thought about it?) But in statements, it always means 'never'.