English Reference

Word

nicht

Definition

adv. a word used in German to mean 'not'. You might see it in song lyrics or in old German texts.

adv. the negative particle in German, corresponding to 'not' in English. Used to negate verbs, adjectives, and other parts of speech.

Examples

“Ich bin nicht hier.”

“The lyrics of the song include the phrase 'nicht so schnell', meaning 'not so fast'.”

“While modern German has largely replaced 'nicht' with 'kein' in certain contexts, it remains the standard negative particle for most verbs and adjectives in standard written and spoken forms.”

Examples

simple

“Ich bin nicht hier.”

contextual

“The lyrics of the song include the phrase 'nicht so schnell', meaning 'not so fast'.”

complex

“While modern German has largely replaced 'nicht' with 'kein' in certain contexts, it remains the standard negative particle for most verbs and adjectives in standard written and spoken forms.”

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference