nie ... nie
Double Negation
To make a sentence negative, put nie after the verb and another nie at the very end: Ek praat nie Duits nie (I don't speak German).
How It Works
Afrikaans is known for its double negative. A negative sentence normally has two nie: the first one after the verb, and the second one as the very last word of the sentence.
- Ek is moeg. (I am tired.) → Ek is nie moeg nie. (I am not tired.)
- Sy eet vleis. (She eats meat.) → Sy eet nie vleis nie. (She doesn't eat meat.)
In English, two negatives can cancel each other out. In Afrikaans they do not. The second nie just shows where the negative part of the sentence ends. It is required in standard Afrikaans, in speech and in writing.
Only one nie. If the first nie is already the last word, you do not add another one. Ek weet nie (I don't know) and Hy kom nie (He isn't coming) have one nie. The same is true after a short pronoun object: Ek ken hom nie (I don't know him).
Other verbs at the end. The second nie comes after everything, even after a verb at the end: Ek kan nie vandag kom nie (I can't come today). See modal verbs.
No English do. Afrikaans does not use a helper like English don't or doesn't. The main verb stays in its place, and nie follows it.
Other negative words work the same way and also take nie at the end: geen (no), niks (nothing), nooit (never). Negative commands use moenie ... nie. Exactly where the first nie goes in longer sentences is covered in placing the first nie.
Examples (6)
- Ek praat nie Duits nie.
I don't speak German.
Word by Word: I speak not German not.
- Sy is nie hier nie.
She isn't here.
Word by Word: She is not here not.
- Ek weet nie.
I don't know.
Word by Word: I know not.
The first nie is already last, so no second nie is added.
- Ons kan nie vandag kom nie.
We can't come today.
Word by Word: We can not today come not.
The second nie comes after the verb at the end.
- Die winkel is nie oop nie.
The shop isn't open.
Word by Word: The shop is not open not.
- Ek ken hom nie.
I don't know him.
Word by Word: I know him not.
Nie follows the pronoun hom and ends the sentence, so one nie is enough.
Common Mistakes
Forgetting the second nie.
Ek praat nie Duits.Ek praat nie Duits nie.When words follow the first nie, standard Afrikaans closes the sentence with a second nie.
Adding a second nie right after the first one.
Ek weet nie nie.Ek weet nie.If nothing comes after the first nie, it is already at the end. One nie is enough.
Putting nie before the verb, as in English do not.
Ek nie praat Duits nie.Ek praat nie Duits nie.The verb keeps its normal place after the subject. The first nie comes after the verb.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Double negation places the first nie after the verb, so learn basic word order first.
Related Patterns
- Where the First nie Goes
Learn exactly where the first nie goes in longer sentences.
Level 3 - geenNo, Not Any: Geen
Geen means no before a noun and also takes nie at the end.
Level 2 - moenieDon't: Moenie
Negative commands use moenie with nie again at the end.
Level 2 - nie ... nie Across ClausesDouble Negation Across Clauses
When a sentence has two clauses, the final nie usually goes at the very end.
Level 4 - glad nieNot at All: Glad Nie
Glad nie makes the negative stronger: not at all.
Level 3 - ook nieNot Either: Ook Nie
Ook nie means not either and follows the same rule.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- altyd/nooitAlways and NeverLevel 2
- iets/niksSomething and NothingLevel 2
- nog nie/nie meer nieNot Yet and No LongerLevel 2
- hoef nie teNot Have to: Hoef Nie TeLevel 3
- nie net ... nie, maar ookNot Only ... but AlsoLevel 3
- nóg ... nógNeither ... norLevel 4
- welWel for Contrast and EmphasisLevel 4
- nie in ExclamationsLevel 6
Words in This Pattern
Practice nie ... nie in Bubblegum
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