6 different ways to say NO in Luxembourgish

Let me put you to the test: do you know how to say no in Lux? This is NEE is very short and negative. However, sometimes when we wish to say no, depending on the situation and the persons you surrounded with then saying NEE can sound a bit harsh.

Imagine that you are in a Luxembourgish café or restaurant, the waiter may ask you if you’d like something else. But you’re fine. Then saying Nee would sound a bit harsh, doesn’t it?

So when we wish to say NEE there are more polite ways to do it. I have set out below a number of different ways to say NEE that you can use in different circumstances. Sometimes when we want to say NEE we try not to be rude or to hurt someone’s feelings so we prefer to use a variety of words that still mean NEE. I am thrilled to not only share in this episode some useful Luxembourgish words for no but also several very useful expressions.

And we’re going to practice saying each of these expressions together naturally so that you can make sure you’re saying NEE the right way.

Prett?

Nee – No

This is the traditional way to say no in Luxembourgish. You might hear some people saying Neen, but it is just to emphasize the negation. Example:

Child: Mamma, kréien ech nach eng Cola? – Mom, can I have another coke?

Mother: Nee(n)! Du hues haut genuch Cola gedronk. – No! You’ve had enough coke for today.

In some situations, answering Nee can come across as rude though. so you may want to say Nee merci instead.

Nee Merci. – No thank you. 

When you buy something at the bakery or order a meal at a restaurant, the waiter or seller is likely to ask you if you’d like something else. If you don’t want anything else you can simply say Nee merci or you can answer:

Nee merci, dat ass alles. – No thank you, that’s all.

Nee merci, ‘t ass alles an der Rei. – No thank you, I’m fine.

Or in case someone is offering you some help but you can manage alone you can answer:

Nee merci, dat geet schonn. – No thank you, I’m fine.

Nee merci, ech ginn eens. – No thank you, I’ll manage.

Ni – never

If you want to say you’ll never do or never did something, you can use ni

Waars du schonn a Schottland? – Have you (informal) ever been to Scotland?

Nee, nach ni. – No, never (so far).

Leider net – Unfortunately not

This is a way often used to politely decline requests while pretending you really wished you could help.

Kann ech e Remboursement kréien? – Can I get a refund?

Leider net. – Unfortunately not.

Nach net! – Not yet!

If you’re supposed to do something, but didn’t do it yet, you can use nach net.

Hues dee Film scho gesinn? – Did you see that movie already?

Nee, nach net. – No, not yet.

Et deet mir leed …. – I’m sorry ….

You can decline any offer by starting your answer with Et deet mer leed …

Let’s talk about how to say this. So when spoken, ‘Et’ is not pronounced and instead of mir native speakers say mer and thus it will sound like this: deet mer leed …. (Watch the video above to practice the pronunciation)

And then you can add the following phrases after Et deet mer leed ….

•  … mee dat geet (leider) net. – …. but I (afraid) can’t.

Et deet mer leed, mee dat geet leider net. –I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I can’t.

•  …. dat ass leider net méiglech. – …. I’m afraid that’s not possible.
• …. mee ech hu (leider) keng Zäit. – … but I’m (afraid) I have no time.
• …. mee ech hu schonn eppes vir. – …. but I’ve already something planned.

Some useful casual ways to say no

These are often used in every day life conversations. Learn them so to recognise these in conversations and to be able to use them as well.

Ech mengen net. – I don’t believe so.

Wahrscheinlech net. – Probably not.

Net datt ech wéisst. – Not at my knowledge.

To say a STRONG NEE you can use one of the following expressions (with someone you know very well!!):

Dat kënnt net a Fro! – That’s out of question! / No way!

Nimools! – Never ever!

Bestëmmt net! – Certainly not.

Lets practice

Try to translate the following sentences into Luxembourgish:

1. I’m afraid, that’s not possible.
2. I don’t have time on Friday.
3. I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I can’t come to your party on Saturday.
4. That’s unfortunately not possible.
5. No thank you, I’m fine.
6. Unfortunately not.

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