не + Adjective

Negating Adjectives with Не

Level 1Sounds Like ne + prikmetnik

In Ukrainian, negating an adjective depends on whether you are creating a new concept (written together: невеликий) or emphasizing a logical contrast (written separately: не великий).

How It Works

Negating adjectives in Ukrainian follows specific spelling rules:

1. Written Together (as one word):

When the word cannot exist without не- (e.g., негайний - immediate, необхідний - necessary).
When it creates a new meaning that can be replaced by a simple synonym (e.g., невеликий = малий).
When contrasted using the word але (but), because both qualities are true at the same time.
With adjectives containing stressed suffixes -енн- or -анн- that show a high degree of quality (e.g., нездоланний - invincible).
With the prefix недо- meaning 'not enough' (e.g., недозрілий - unripe).

2. Written Separately (as two words):

When there is a direct contrast using the word а (e.g., не великий, а малий - not big, but small).
When used with words that emphasize denial: зовсім (at all), далеко (far from), аж ніяк (by no means), or negative words starting with ні- (e.g., нітрохи не).
When the adjective follows the noun to describe its state (in the predicate) and you want to emphasize the denial (e.g., Ця річка не глибока).
With adjectives in the comparative or superlative degrees.
With adjectives describing material or ownership (e.g., не дерев'яний).

Examples (6)

Це негайний виклик.
This is an immediate call.
Word by Word: This [is] immediate call.
Written together because the adjective 'негайний' does not exist in Ukrainian without the 'не-' prefix.
Це невеликий, але затишний сад.
This is a small but cozy garden.
Word by Word: This [is] not-big, but cozy garden.
Written together because 'невеликий' creates a new concept that can be replaced by the synonym 'малий' (small).
Цей фільм зовсім не цікавий.
This movie is not interesting at all.
Word by Word: This movie at-all not interesting.
Written separately because words like 'зовсім' (at all), 'абсолютно' (absolutely), and 'аж ніяк' (by no means) emphasize the denial of the quality.
Він не старий, а молодий.
He is not old, but young.
Word by Word: He not old, but young.
Written separately because there is an explicit contrast using the conjunction 'а'.
Це нездоланний народ.
This is an invincible people.
Word by Word: This [is] invincible people.
Written together because adjectives with stressed suffixes like -анн- or -енн- (expressing a high degree of quality) always take 'не-' as a prefix.
Ця книга не краща за ту.
This book is not better than that one.
Word by Word: This book not better than that.
Written separately because 'не' is written as a particle with adjectives in the comparative degree.

Common Mistakes

Writing 'не' separately when using the conjunction 'але'.
Він не високий, але сильний.
Він невисокий, але сильний.
Unlike the conjunction 'а' (which shows a direct contrast), 'але' connects two qualities that are both true. In this case, 'не' acts as a prefix and is written together with the adjective.
Writing 'не' together when emphasizing denial in a sentence.
Цей результат зовсім неправильний.
Цей результат зовсім не правильний.
When words like 'зовсім' (at all) or 'абсолютно' (absolutely) are used to emphasize the denial of a state in the predicate, 'не' is written separately from the adjective.

How It Connects

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

не + AdjectiveLevel 1Negating Adjectives with Не

Learn This First

To understand how to negate adjectives, you first need to be familiar with the negative particle 'не' and how adjectives function within basic nominative sentences, particularly those using the 'це' (this is) construction.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

ажIntensifier АжLevel 6

Words in This Pattern

не-

Practice не + Adjective in Bubblegum

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