Nein

/naɪn/ interjection

Definition

The German word for 'no,' used in German language contexts.

Etymology

From Old High German 'nein,' derived from 'ne' (not) and 'ein' (one), literally meaning 'not one.' This construction appears across Germanic languages as a fundamental negation.

Kelly Says

Germanic languages like German, Dutch, and English all started with the same negation strategy—combining 'not' with 'one' to create 'no'—showing how related languages independently developed parallel solutions.

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