Latvian

Particle

nē

1. used to deny or disagree with what was said in the preceding affirmative statement; no

   “Vai tu biji teātrī?” “Nē” — “Were you at the theater?” “No”

   “Vai viņš ir slims?” “Nē” — “Is he sick?” “No”

2. used to confirm or agree with what was said in the preceding negative statement; no

   “Avīzi neatvedi?” “Nē”, es iesaucos; “avīzes mums nav.”‎ ― “Didn't you bring the newspaper?” “No,” I exclaimed; “we don't have newspapers.”

   “Tu esi klāt!” viņa sacīja. “Jā, esmu klāt.” “Nenomaldījies?” “Nē, nenomaldījos.” — “You are here!” she said. “Yes, I am here.” “You didn't get lost?” “No, I didn't get lost.”

3. used to negate a previous assumption; no

   Atskan telefona zvans: tai vajag būt viņai! Nē, nav.‎ ― The telephone bell rang: it must be her! No, it isn't.

   Ja viss sils izdegtu!... Nē, nē, to Andrikssons nebija gribējis‎ ― If the whole forest burned!... No, no, Andrikssons had not wanted that

4. used to correct, precise or reinforce what was said in the preceding utterance; no, rather, actually

   Jūra bija zila. Nē, dzīzāk zaļa‎ ― The sea was blue. No, rather (it was) green.

   Atnākšu rīt. Nē, parīt.‎ ― I'll come tomorrow. No, actually, the day after tomorrow

   Kāds nāca. Nē, tur sarunādamies nāca vairāki vīri.‎ ― Someone was coming. No, actually, several men came talking.

   Ieva reizēm palūkojās: zēns soļoja, rokas šūpodams, šaurajā sejā apņēmīga izteiksme. Nē, Aivars atradīs sev vietu dzīvē‎ ― Ieva looked a few times: the boy walked, arms swinging, a resolute expression in (his) narrow face. No, Aivars will find a place for himself in life

5. used to reinforce a negative statement; no

   Nē, neiesim!‎ ― No, we're not going!

   Nē, nevar.‎ ― No, (you) can't (do this).

   Nē, tas patiesi nav saprotams.‎ ― No, this is really not clear

   Nē, citādi tu nevarēji rīkoties.‎ ― No, you could not have acted differently

6. used instead of a negative verb form; no, ...not

   vienam ieteicams sauļoties, otrs turpretī nedrīkst; viens var peldēties, cits nē‎ ― to one it is recommended to sit in the sun, the other, however, is not allowed; one may swim, the other no (= may not)

7. used as a noun, to indicate a negative answer to a question, or to a proposal

   Kristaps gribēja apprecēties... bet te nu Līvija pateica: nē'‎ ― Kristaps wanted to get marreid... but here Līvija said: no.

   viņai iztapa, viņu lutināja, nekad viņai nebija gadījies dzirdēt “nē”, kad viņa kaut ko vēlējās‎ ― they pleased her, they indulged her, she never had happened to hear “no” when she wanted something

Antonyms

• jā

Related terms

• ne
• ne-
• nedz

References

1. ↑ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992), “nē”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, ISBN 9984-700-12-7