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не

/[nʲɪ] | [ˈnʲe]/
Russianparticleprefixintj

Definitions

  1. 1.
    not, no, -n't, without
    • Он не зна́ет

      On ne znájetHe does not know.

    • не долете́в до це́ли

      ne doletév do céliwithout having reached the target

    • он не ге́ний

      on ne génijhe is no genius

  2. 2.
    Idiomatic negative usage
    • (мне) не по себе́

      (mne) ne po sebé(I) feel sick; (I) feel uncomfortable

    • не раз

      ne razmore than once (literary: not once); time and again; repeatedly; many a time

    • Я ви́дел вас не раз.

      Ja vídel vas ne raz.I have seen you often.

  3. 3.
    perhaps not, whether ... or not
    • Сча́стье не сча́стье, но что́-то похо́жее.

      Sčástʹje ne sčástʹje, no štó-to poxóžeje.Perhaps not happiness, but something very much like it.

    • Хо́чешь не хо́чешь, а придётся сде́лать.

      Xóčešʹ ne xóčešʹ, a pridjótsja sdélatʹ.like it or not, you’ll have to do it.

  4. 4.
    will never (implying impossibility to do something)
    • Ему́ э́того не сде́лать.

      Jemú étovo ne sdélatʹ.He will never do it.

  5. 5.
    (usually not translated, gives affirmative meaning for expression, especially in exclamations)
  6. 6.
    colloquialno (used to show disagreement or negation)
    • Помо́жешь мне? Не, да́же и не ду́май.

      Pomóžešʹ mne? Ne, dáže i ne dúmaj.Will you help me? No, don't even think about it.

Synonyms & related words

Synonyms
Related words (2)

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *ne, from Proto-Balto-Slavic *ne, from Proto-Indo-European *né. Cognates include Lithuanian ne, Old English ne, German nicht, nie, Gothic 𐌽𐌹 (ni), Irish ní, Latin ne, Sanskrit न (ná).

Forms

  • neromanization

Nearby Russian words

Browse the Russian dictionary →