Definify.com
Definition 2024
Niemand
niemand
niemand
See also: Niemand
Dutch
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈni.mɑnt/
Etymology
Pronoun
niemand (genitive niemands)
Antonyms
German
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Old High German nioman.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈniːmant/
Pronoun
niemand
- nobody, no one
- 1707, Bach, BWV 4, Christ lag in Todes Banden:
- Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt.
- Nobody could defeat death.
- Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt.
- 1707, Bach, BWV 4, Christ lag in Todes Banden:
Usage notes
- Niemand is synonymous with keiner (“no one”), which is the nominalised masculine form of the pronoun kein (“no”). In written German, niemand is more common than keiner. (Note that keiner can also be used in other senses, in which niemand is not applicable.)
- Niemand may or may not take the case endings -em (dative) and -en (accusative). Thus: “Ich suche niemand” and “Ich suche niemanden” are both correct translations of “I'm looking for nobody.” The latter is probably somewhat more common (at least in writing).
- With a following adjective, niemand is always uninflected. The adjective itself is capitalized and declined in the strong pattern. It generally uses neuter forms: niemand Neues – "nobody new". In the accusative case it may also take a masculine form: “Ich suche niemand Neuen” alongside “Ich suche niemand Neues.” ("I'm looking for nobody new.") The dative form has -em either way. The genitive case cannot be used with an adjective, but needs to be paraphrased.
Declension
This pronoun needs an inflection-table template.
- N: niemand
- G: niemandes or niemands
- D: niemandem or niemand or niemanden (dated)
- A: niemanden or niemand