nikt / nic

Nikt and Nic

Level 2

In Polish, 'nikt' (nobody) and 'nic' (nothing) always work in pairs with a negated verb. This is called negative concord.

How It Works

1. The Rule of Negative Concord
In Polish, multiple negatives do not cancel each other out. Instead, they reinforce the negative meaning of the sentence. If you use nikt or nic, the verb must be preceded by nie.

2. Case Changes (Declension)
Both pronouns change their form based on their role in the sentence (cases):

  • Nikt (Nominative) becomes nikogo in the Genitive and Accusative.
  • Nic (Nominative/Accusative) becomes niczego in the Genitive.

3. The Genitive of Negation
When nic or nikt is the direct object of a negated verb, it must shift to the Genitive case. This is why you often see niczego instead of nic in formal contexts, though nic is common in casual speech.

4. 'Anybody' and 'Anything'
Polish does not have separate words for 'anybody' or 'anything' in negative sentences. You use nikt and nic for both 'nobody/nothing' and 'anybody/anything' when the verb is negative.

Examples (5)

  1. Nikt nie przyszedł.

    Nobody came.

    Word by Word: Nobody not came.

    A classic example of negative concord: 'nikt' (nobody) + 'nie' (not) + verb.

  2. Nic nie widzę.

    I don't see anything / I see nothing.

    Word by Word: Nothing not I-see.

    In Polish, 'nic' covers both 'nothing' and 'anything' in a negative sentence.

  3. Nie mam niczego.

    I don't have anything.

    Word by Word: Not I-have nothing (genitive).

    Because the verb is negated, the object 'nic' changes to the genitive form 'niczego'.

  4. Nikogo nie ma w domu.

    There is nobody at home.

    Word by Word: Nobody (genitive) not there-is in home.

    This uses the construction nie ma which requires the genitive form 'nikogo'.

  5. Nigdy nikomu nic nie mówię.

    I never tell anyone anything.

    Word by Word: Never nobody (dative) nothing not I-tell.

    Polish allows 'triple negation' (never + nobody + nothing + not). It is perfectly grammatical.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the 'nie' before the verb.

    Nikt przyszedł.
    Nikt nie przyszedł.

    In English, you say 'Nobody came.' In Polish, you must say 'Nobody NOT came.' The 'nie' is mandatory.

  • Using 'coś' (something) in a negative sentence to mean 'anything'.

    Nie widzę coś.
    Nic nie widzę.

    Learners often translate 'I don't see anything' literally. In a negative sentence, Polish uses a negative word such as 'nic' and keeps the verb negated: 'Nic nie widzę.'

How It Connects

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nikt / nicLevel 2Nikt and Nic

Learn This First

Learn Negation With Nie before Nikt And Nic.

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