# nicht

CEFR C2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nicht
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

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

For teachers: 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.