nein is the standard, safe choice everywhere. nö is its casual, shortened cousin — save it for friends.
Ways to say it
nein
no — the standard word
Möchtest du Kaffee? Nein, danke.
Would you like coffee? No, thanks.
nö
nope — very casual no
Willst du mitkommen? Nö, keine Lust.
Want to come along? Nope, not feeling it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is nö rude?+
Not rude, but casual — it reads like English "nope" rather than a firm "no." Use nein in any formal or unfamiliar setting.
Can I practice these with flashcards or a quiz?+
Yes — check the phrases you want using the checkboxes in the table, then use the bar at the bottom of the page to start Flashcards, Multiple Choice, or a Final Test.
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Practice tips
- ✓Tap play to hear each phrase before you try saying it yourself.
- ✓Notice which options are formal and which are informal before you use them.
- ✓Practice the example sentence, not just the phrase on its own — that's how it's actually used.
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GermanVocabulary Team
Writes phrase and vocabulary guides for GermanVocabulary.net.