German for Beginners: How to Use “Nicht” and “Kein” (A1)
Do you want to say “no” or “not” in German? It is very easy! In German, we use two main words to make a sentence negative: nicht and kein.
Let’s learn how to use them with simple rules and examples.
1. When to use “Nicht” (Not)
We use nicht to negate verbs (actions) and adjectives (words that describe things).
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With Adjectives: Put nicht before the adjective.
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German: Das Haus ist nicht groß.
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English: The house is not big.
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With Verbs: Put nicht after the action.
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German: Ich gehe nicht ins Kino.
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English: I am not going to the cinema.
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2. When to use “Kein / Keine” (No / Not a)
We use kein or keine only to negate nouns (things, people, and places). Think of it as “no” or “not any.”
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Kein is for masculine (der) and neuter (das) words.
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German: Ich habe kein Auto. (das Auto)
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English: I have no car. / I don’t have a car.
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German: Ich esse kein Fleisch. (das Fleisch)
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English: I eat no meat. / I don’t eat meat.
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Keine is for feminine (die) and plural (more than one) words.
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German: Sie hat keine Freunde hier. (die Freunde)
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English: She has no friends here. / She doesn’t have any friends here.
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The Golden Rule for A1 Learners
Never use “nicht” and “kein” together in the same sentence! You must choose only one.
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❌ Wrong: Ich habe nicht kein Auto.
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Right: Ich habe kein Auto.
A1 Grammar Summary Table
| What do you want to negate? | Word to use | Example | English Translation |
| An Action (Verb) | nicht | Ich schwimme nicht. | I do not swim. |
| A Description (Adjective) | nicht | Das Auto ist nicht neu. | The car is not new. |
| A Thing (Noun) | kein / keine | Ich habe keinen Hund. | I don’t have a dog. |
A1 Practice Quiz: Test Yourself!
Can you fill in the blank with nicht or kein/keine?
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Ich trinke _____ Kaffee. (Kaffee is a noun)
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Das Wetter ist _____ gut. (gut is an adjective)
(Answers: 1. kein / 2. nicht)