ne

Meaning

1. (literary) not (used alone to negate a verb, now chiefly with only a few particular verbs: see usage notes)
2. not, no (used before a verb, with a coordinating negative element usually following; see Usage Notes, below)
3. Used in a subordinate clause before a subjunctive verb (especially when the main verb expresses doubt or fear), to provide extra overtones of doubt or uncertainty (but not negating its verb); the so-called "pleonastic" or "expletive" ne.
4. In comparative clauses usually translated with the positive sense of the subsequent negative

Concepts

not

🚫

non

no

🙅

ne

nope

nose

👃

na

like a hole in the head

like a hole in one’s head

doesn’t

don't

do not

don’t

Synonyms

ne pas

pas

ne point

ne … pas

non

🙅

norvégien

🇳🇴/🇸🇯

bermudien

ne ... pas

patron

non pas

pélagin

chien

🐕

niet

ne guère

Translations

non

🚫

no

🚫

no

🙅

não

🚫

δεν

μη

nicht

🚫

değil

🚫

ne

🙅

نا

nec

نه

non

🚫

nunquam

δε

Pronounced as (IPA)

/nə/

Etymology

Cognate with Middle French: -

Inherited from Old French: nen

Inherited from Latin: non

In summary

From Middle French, from Old French nen or ne preceding words starting in a consonant, from Latin nōn.

Sentences

Elle ne voulait pas le dire .

She didn't want to say it.

Mais on ne sait rien de sa fin .

But we don't know anything about its end.

Il ne sait pas le secret .

He doesn't know the secret.

Je ne trouve aucune graine dans ce champ .

I can't find any seeds in this field.

Denis ne comprend pas pourquoi .

Denis doesn't understand why.

Votre précision ne me semble donc pas indispensable .

Your precision therefore does not seem essential to me.