01
nichts
nothing
Indefinite pronoun that indicates the absence of everything or the opposite of 'etwas' (something); no thing.
example
Ich habe den ganzen Tag noch nichts gegessen.
I haven’t eaten anything all day.
nichts
nothing
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Meanings
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Usage tips
No double negation
In German, there is no double negation. The word 'nichts' (nothing) alone makes the sentence negative. You do not use it together with 'nicht' (not).
EXAMPLE
Ich sehe nichts.
I see nothing.
Always unchanged
Just like 'etwas' (something), 'nichts' (nothing) is an invariable pronoun. It is never declined and always keeps the same form.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe Angst vor nichts.
I am afraid of nothing.
Use with adjectives
An adjective can follow 'nichts' (nothing). It is then capitalized and takes the ending for neuter nouns in the singular (-es).
EXAMPLE
Heute ist nichts Besonderes passiert.
Nothing special happened today.
Emphasis with 'gar'
To emphasize 'nichts' (nothing), the word 'gar' is often placed before it. The combination 'gar nichts' means 'absolutely nothing' or 'nothing at all'.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe heute noch gar nichts getrunken.
I haven’t drunk anything at all today.
Fixed expression
'Nichts für ungut' (no offense) is a fixed expression. You use it to soften a critical or potentially hurtful statement.
EXAMPLE
Nichts für ungut, aber deine neue Frisur gefällt mir nicht so gut.
No offense, but I don’t like your new hairstyle very much.
Colloquial style
The expression 'Nichts da!' (No way!) is a very direct and colloquial way to firmly reject a request or suggestion. It is not rude, but very definite.
EXAMPLE
Kann ich mir 20 Euro leihen? – Nichts da, du hast mir die letzten auch nicht zurückgegeben!
Can I borrow 20 euros? – No way, you didn’t pay back the last money you borrowed from me either!
Compare with
nichts vs etwas
something / somewhat
'etwas' and 'nichts' are clear opposites. 'etwas' means an unspecified thing or a small amount. 'nichts' means that no thing is there or that no amount is present. Learners may confuse the words because both often appear without a specific noun. A practical rule is: if at least one thing or a small amount is present, 'etwas' fits. If no thing at all is present, 'nichts' fits.
nichts
Nach dem Gespräch sagt sie nichts mehr zu ihrer Kollegin.
After the conversation, she says nothing more to her colleague.
etwas
Für das Projekt brauchen wir noch etwas Geld.
We still need some money for the project.
In real life
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