Meaning

no; not a(n); not one; not any

Frequency

A1
Dialects

Basel-Landschaft

Basel-Landschaft

kai

Basel-Landschaft

Basel-Landschaft

kain

Basel-Landschaft

Basel-Landschaft

kaine

St. Gallen

St. Gallen

kùn

Zürich

Zürich

kein

Zürich

Zürich

kes

Data provided by: Deutsch-Schweizerdeutsches Wörterbuch

Pronounced as (IPA)
/kaɪ̯n/
Etymology

In summary

From Middle High German kein, back-formation of original nekein (“not any”), from Old High German nihein, from Proto-West Germanic *nehwain, from Proto-Germanic *nehwainaz (“not any”). Compare Dutch geen, Yiddish קיין (keyn). More at none.

Notes

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