jamai

Never

Level 2

Jamai means never, with pas after the verb.

How It Works

Jamai means that something never happens. In everyday sentences it follows pas, which goes after the verb. The two words give one negative meaning.

OccitanEnglish
Bevi pas jamai de vin.I never drink wine.
Maria canta pas jamai.Maria never sings.
Quora vas a Albi? Jamai.When do you go to Albi? Never.

The present tense is enough for a habit. Compare the other frequency words: totjorn (always), sovent (often) and de còps (sometimes). They are used without pas. Spell it jamai, without the final s of French jamais. In Catalan mai means never, but in Occitan mai means more.

Examples (4)

  1. Bevi pas jamai de vin.

    I never drink wine.

    Pas jamai gives a negative habit.

  2. Anam pas jamai a Albi.

    We never go to Albi.

    The place comes after pas jamai.

  3. Maria canta pas jamai.

    Maria never sings.

    Jamai says that the action never happens.

  4. Quora vas a Albi? Jamai.

    When do you go to Albi? Never.

    Jamai can answer on its own.

Common Mistakes

  • Spelling it like the French word.

    Parli pas jamais occitan.
    Parli pas jamai occitan.

    Occitan writes jamai, with no final s.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

jamaiLevel 2Never

Learn This First

Jamai is a negative that works with pas, so negation with pas comes first.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

jamaipas