German · Greetings & Essentials
"No" in German: nein
nein
No in German is nein. Soften a refusal with Nein, danke or Nein, lieber nicht. For not yet, say noch nicht instead of a bare nein.
Declining more food
Nein danke, ich bin satt.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce nein
Say it
nine
/naɪ̯n/
Nine, like the English number. The ei is always an "eye" sound in German. Keep the n clear at both ends.
"No" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| nein | no The direct no in every register. | The direct no in every register. |
| Nein, danke | no thank you Polite refusal of an offer. | Polite refusal of an offer. |
| Nein, lieber nicht | no, I'd rather not Softer no when declining a plan. | Softer no when declining a plan. |
| noch nicht | not yet Use when something simply hasn't happened yet. | Use when something simply hasn't happened yet. |
| keinen / keine / kein | no / not any Negates a noun: keinen Hunger, keine Zeit. | Negates a noun: keinen Hunger, keine Zeit. |
How to use nein in real life
- 1Declining more food
Nein danke, ich bin satt.
No thanks, I'm full.
Nein danke is the standard polite refusal at the table.
- 2Turning down a plan
Nein, heute schaffe ich das leider nicht.
No, I unfortunately can't manage that today.
Adding leider softens the refusal without changing nein.
- 3At the supermarket till
Nein, ich brauche keine Tüte.
No, I don't need a bag.
A clear nein works at the till; Nee is only a casual spoken variant.
Mistakes English speakers make with nein
Incorrect: Nein Hunger.
Correct: Keinen Hunger.
To negate a noun, use kein/keine/keinen. Nein answers a yes/no question, it does not replace kein.
Incorrect: No, danke.
Correct: Nein, danke.
Use German nein. Mixing English no into the phrase sounds odd.
Good to know
A clear nein is not rude in German if your tone stays calm. People often prefer a direct no over a vague maybe. Softeners like danke, leider, or lieber nicht keep the door friendly without hiding the answer.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
A host offers cake after dinner
ChatPal
Möchtest du noch ein Stück Kuchen?
Would you like another piece of cake?
You
Nein danke, es war schon perfekt.
No thanks, it was already perfect.
ChatPal
Sicher? Es gibt auch Obst.
Sure? There's fruit too.
You
Nein, lieber nicht. Ich bin wirklich satt.
No, I'd rather not. I'm really full.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"No" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "No" in German
What is the difference between nein and kein?
Nein answers a whole question. Kein negates a noun: keine Zeit (no time), keinen Kaffee (no coffee).
Is nee the same as nein?
Nee is an informal spoken variant, especially in northern Germany. In careful writing and formal speech, use nein.
How do you politely say no thank you?
Say Nein, danke. For a softer decline of a plan, Nein, lieber nicht works well.
How do you say not yet?
Use noch nicht. Example: Bist du fertig? — Noch nicht. That is clearer than a bare nein.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
