нет vs не

net vs ne — no vs not

What it really means

Нет is an independent word meaning “no,” and it can answer a question, reject a proposal, or state that something is absent: У меня́ нет вре́мени means “I don't have time.” It can also be the predicate of an existence statement, normally followed by a genitive noun. As a reply, it stands on its own.

Не is the negative particle used with a verb, adjective, noun, or other predicate: Я не зна́ю (“I don't know”), э́то не пра́вда (“this is not true”). Russian normally places не directly before the word it negates. Use нет for a standalone “no” or “there is not,” and не to build a negated statement.

Examples in natural speech

Ты го́тов? — Нет.
Are you ready? — No.
У меня́ нет вре́мени.
I don't have time.
Я не понима́ю вопро́са.
I don't understand the question.
Э́то не моя́ су́мка.
This is not my bag.
Нет, он не рабо́тает сего́дня.
No, he isn't working today.

Common mistakes

Do not replace every English “no” with не: a short negative answer is Нет, not Не. Conversely, do not use нет before an ordinary finite verb; say Я не зна́ю. In possession and existence, use нет with the genitive: У нас нет ма́шины.

Memory tip

Нет can answer by itself; не needs a word or predicate to negate.

Frequently asked questions

Why does нет take the genitive?

In an absence construction, the missing thing is normally genitive: нет де́нег, нет вре́мени, нет кни́ги.

Can не be a standalone answer?

Normally no. Russian uses Нет for “no”; не usually attaches to the word or phrase it negates.

What is the difference between нет and не было?

Нет means “there isn't/isn't available” now; не было is the past-tense negative form of быть: “there wasn't.”

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