ne-
Negating Verbs with Ne-
Negate a verb by joining ne- to its front: nemám (I don't have). For am, is and are, use nie: nie som.
How It Works
Join ne- to the front of the verb, with no space: mám → nemám, rozumiem → nerozumiem, pracujeme → nepracujeme, chcem → nechcem, môžem → nemôžem.
The stress moves to ne-, because Slovak always stresses the first syllable: NE-ro-zu-miem.
Byť in the present tense is the only exception. It uses a separate nie: nie som, nie si, nie je, nie sme, nie ste, nie sú. In other tenses, byť follows the rule again: nebol (he wasn't), nebudem (I won't be).
Ísť changes its shape a little. The negative of idem (I go) is nejdem, and the other forms follow: nejdeš, nejde, nejdú.
Words like sa and si keep their place, and ne- stays on the verb: Nevolám sa Peter. (My name isn't Peter.)
Use nie on its own as the answer no, or to negate a word that is not a verb: Nie dnes, ale zajtra. (Not today, but tomorrow.)
Slovak also uses double negatives, like Nikto nič nevie. (Nobody knows anything.) You will learn these later.
Examples (6)
- Nerozumiem, čo hovoríš.
I don't understand what you are saying.
- Dnes nemám čas.
I don't have time today.
- V sobotu nepracujeme.
We don't work on Saturdays.
- Nechcem ísť domov.
I don't want to go home.
Only the first verb takes ne-.
- Nie som unavený.
I'm not tired.
Byť in the present uses a separate nie.
- Dnes večer nejdem von.
I'm not going out tonight.
The negative of idem is nejdem.
Common Mistakes
Putting nie before a verb other than byť.
Ja nie mám čas.Ja nemám čas.Only the present of byť uses a separate nie. Other verbs take ne- as part of the word.
Joining ne- to the present tense of byť.
Nesom doma.Nie som doma.The present tense of byť is negated with a separate nie: nie som.
Negating sa instead of the verb.
Ja sa nie volám Peter.Ja sa nevolám Peter.The negative belongs on the verb: nevolám. Sa stays where it is.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Negating Verbs With ne-, learn Present Verbs in -ám. ne- is written together with a conjugated verb: nevolám.
Related Patterns
- nie som / nie jeNegative Forms of Byť
The present of byť is the exception with a separate nie.
Level 1 - áno / nieYes and No
Nie on its own is the answer no.
Level 1 - Stress on the First Syllable
Ne- takes the stress because it becomes the first syllable.
Level 1 - nikto / nič / nikdyNobody, Nothing and Never
Slovak uses ne- on the verb together with nikto and nič.
Level 2 - Negative Commands
Negative commands also use ne-, as in nerob to.
Level 2 - nemusieť / nesmieťDon't Have to and Must Not
Negated modal verbs have their own meanings.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice ne- in Bubblegum
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