niet

See also: Niet, niet-, and niệt

English

Interjection

niet

1. Alternative spelling of nyet.
   • 1993, Douglas Thompson, quoting Sean Connery, “Michelle in Moscow”, in Pfeiffer: Beyond the Age of Innocence, London: Smith Gryphon, →ISBN, page 148:

     Before if you wanted to make a request they said, ‘Niet.’ You would be shooting something, and they would say you were finished, and it was over.

   • 2003, John Oaksey, “‘Hope you get something to write about’”, in Mince Pie for Starters: A Racing Life, London: Headline, →ISBN, page 162:

     Heedless of my cries of ‘Niet, niet!’, he grabbed poor Vladimir and hoisted him back aboard.

   • 2015, Diane Chandler, chapter 5, in The Road to Donetsk, London: Blackbird Digital Books, →ISBN, pages 46–47:

     “Sorry I have no change.” / “Niet,” No, she protested, unfolding the note and holding it up to the other women.

Dutch

Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch niwet, niet, from Old Dutch *niowiht, niewiht, from nio (“never”) + wiht (“thing, creature”). The former in turn derives from Proto-Germanic *ne (“not”) + *aiw- (“ever”) + *wihtą (“thing”).

It was originally a pronoun meaning "not a thing", and was later used to reinforce a regular negation. The pronomial meaning was lost in Middle Dutch. English not, and its older forms naught and nought, were formed in the same way, but "not" also lost its sense as a pronoun and became a negation adverb as in Dutch.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /nit/ (standard)
• IPA^(key): /ni/ (often, in fast speech)
• Rhymes: -it

• Audio:

  (file)

Adverb

niet

1. not, no, don't: used to express negation.

   Antonym: wel

   Niet storen!

   Do not disturb!

   Dat is niet waar.

   That is not true.

Derived terms

• kweenie
• niet eens
• nietes
• niettegenstaande
• niettemin
• nietwaar
• nog niet
• teniet

Related terms

• niets

Descendants

• Afrikaans: nie
• Berbice Creole Dutch: ni
• Javindo: niet
• Jersey Dutch: nît, nî
• Negerhollands: na, no, nu, ne, ni, nit, niet
• Petjo: niet
• Skepi Creole Dutch: ni, niti

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

niet f (plural nieten, diminutive nietje n)

1. staple (wire fastener)

Usage notes

The word is commonly used in the diminutive form

Derived terms

• nietmachine

Descendants

• → Papiamentu: nit

Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

niet

1. inflection of nieten:
   1. first/second/third-person singular present indicative
   2. imperative

Anagrams

• tien

Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch niewiht, *niowiht, from nio (“never”) + wiht (“thing, creature”). The former in turn derives from Proto-Germanic *ne (“not”) + *aiw- (“ever”) + *wihtą (“thing”).

Adverb

niet

1. not

Alternative forms

• nicht, niewet

Descendants

• Dutch: niet (see there for further descendants)
• Jersey Dutch: nît
• Limburgish: neet

Pronoun

niet

1. nothing

Further reading

• “niet (III)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “niet (I)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN, page I

Norman

Alternative forms

• nyit (continental Normandy)
• gniet, gniaette (Guernsey)

Etymology

From Old French noit, nuit, from Latin noctem, accusative of nox, from Proto-Indo-European *nókʷts.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Jersey):

  (file)

Noun

niet f (plural niets)

1. (Jersey, Guernsey) night
   • 2006, Peggy Collenette, “Célébraïr 25 onnaïes”, in P'tites Lures Guernésiaises, Cromwell Press, published 2006, page 18:

     La Marie et Jimmin dormisirent toute la niet et Jimmin s'éville au matin dauve l'épile à sen naïz.

     Marie and Jimmy slept all night and Jimmy woke up in the morning with the peg on his nose.

Old English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ni͜yːt/

Verb

nīet

1. third-person singular present indicative of nīedan