Polish · Greetings & Essentials
"Not" in Polish: nie
nie
Not in Polish is nie. Nie negates verbs and many other words; Polish normally uses additional negatives in sentences such as nic nie wiem.
A first use of not
Nie mam czasu.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce nie
Say it
nie
/ɲɛ/
In nie, ń/ni is a palatal n. The content words in nie normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"Not" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| nie | Not The main expression for not. | The main expression for not. |
| wcale nie | not at all Strengthens a negative statement. | Strengthens a negative statement. |
How to use nie in real life
- 1A first use of not
Nie mam czasu.
I have no time.
This is a natural setting for nie.
- 2A second conversational context
To nie jest mój telefon.
That is not my phone.
Notice how nie fits with the surrounding words here.
- 3Another practical use
Nie rozumiem tego zdania.
I do not understand this sentence.
Nie negates verbs and many other words; Polish normally uses additional negatives in sentences such as nic nie wiem.
Mistakes English speakers make with nie
Incorrect: nic wiem
Correct: nie
For this meaning, the complete Polish form is nie. Nie negates verbs and many other words; Polish normally uses additional negatives in sentences such as nic nie wiem.
Incorrect: nie mam czas
Correct: nie
Keep the wording and grammatical forms in nie; the proposed form changes or breaks this expression.
Good to know
Nie negates verbs and many other words; Polish normally uses additional negatives in sentences such as nic nie wiem.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Practice not
Partner
Co powiesz w tej sytuacji?
What will you say in this situation?
You
Nie mam czasu.
I have no time.
Partner
A w innym kontekście?
And in another context?
You
To nie jest mój telefon.
That is not my phone.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Not" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Not" in Polish
When should I say nie?
Nie negates verbs and many other words; Polish normally uses additional negatives in sentences such as nic nie wiem.
Is wcale nie another way to say not?
Wcale nie is a useful related expression. The main form here is nie; choose the wording that fits the person and context.
What wording should I avoid with nie?
Avoid nic wiem. The correct expression is nie; Nie negates verbs and many other words; Polish normally uses additional negatives in sentences such as nic nie wiem.
Can you show nie in a sentence?
Nie rozumiem tego zdania. — I do not understand this sentence.
Use these words in a conversation
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- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
