Italian · Greetings & Essentials
"Nothing" in Italian: niente / nulla
niente / nulla
Nothing in Italian is niente (NYEN-teh) or nulla (NOOL-lah). Non ho niente means I have nothing. Both are common.
Empty fridge
In frigo non c'è niente.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce niente / nulla
Say it
NYEN-teh
/ˈnjɛn.te/
Niente stresses NYEN: NYEN-teh. Nulla stresses NOOL: NOOL-lah.
"Nothing" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| niente | nothing Most everyday. | Most everyday. |
| nulla | nothing Slightly more formal / written. | Slightly more formal / written. |
| non… niente | not… anything / nothing With negation. | With negation. |
| di niente | you're welcome / it's nothing Reply to thanks. | Reply to thanks. |
How to use niente / nulla in real life
- 1Empty fridge
In frigo non c'è niente.
There's nothing in the fridge.
Niente.
- 2Polite reply
Grazie! — Di niente.
Thanks! — It's nothing.
Di niente.
- 3Wallet check
Non ho nulla da dichiarare.
I have nothing to declare.
Nulla alternative.
Mistakes English speakers make with niente / nulla
Incorrect: Ho niente soldi. (without non)
Correct: Non ho niente.
Italian usually pairs non with niente/nulla.
Incorrect: I have nothing in English calque: ho nothing.
Correct: Non ho niente.
Use niente or nulla.
Good to know
Di niente answers grazie as casually as pretgo. Niente di speciale is the humble reply when someone asks what you did.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Checking a shared shopping bag
ChatPal
Hai preso il sale?
Did you get the salt?
You
No, non ho niente di salato.
No, I have nothing salty.
ChatPal
Ok, allora non manca niente altro?
Ok, so nothing else is missing?
You
Niente: siamo a posto.
Nothing—we're good.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Nothing" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Nothing" in Italian
Niente vs nulla?
Both mean nothing; niente is more casual.
I have nothing?
Non ho niente.
You're welcome?
Di niente works.
Nothing special?
Niente di speciale.
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
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