How to Say "No" in Russian

"No" in Russian is нет (net). It is short, never changes, and is one of the most useful words you can learn early - just be aware it is different from не, the word for "not".

In Russian

нет

net - no

Variants & registers

нет, спасибоnet, spasíbo
no, thank you - the polite refusal
polite
неne
not - negates a verb/word, e.g. я не знаю ("I don't know")
grammar word
нельзяnelzyá
you can't / it's not allowed
neutral
ни за чтоni za chto
no way / not for anything - an emphatic refusal
emphatic

Breakdown & pronunciation

Pronunciation

нет is one syllable: "nyet". The е gives it a soft "y" glide after the n, so it is nyet, not net. Keep it short and crisp.

Exemples de phrases

Нет, спасибо.
Net, spasíbo.
No, thank you.
Нет, я не знаю.
Net, ya ne znáyu.
No, I don't know.
У меня нет времени.
U menyá net vrémeni.
I don't have time.
Нет, это не так.
Net, eto ne tak.
No, that's not so.

Usage & etiquette

Do not confuse нет with не. нет is the standalone answer "no" (and also means "there is no...", as in у меня нет времени, "I have no time"). не is the little particle that negates a verb: я не понимаю ("I don't understand").

To refuse an offer politely, нет, спасибо ("no, thank you") is the safe, friendly choice everywhere - in shops, at the table, on the street.

Practice

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FAQ

How do you say "no" in Russian?

"No" in Russian is нет, pronounced "nyet" with a soft y-glide. It never changes form and works as a standalone answer.

What is the difference between нет and не?

нет is the answer "no" (and "there is no..."). не is the particle "not" that goes before a verb or word to negate it, as in я не знаю ("I don't know").

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