The Double Negation Rule
In English, saying "I do not see nothing" is grammatically incorrect. In Romanian, double negation is mandatory.
If your sentence contains a negative pronoun like nimeni (nobody) or nimic (nothing), the verb must also be negated with nu.
| Nobody lies here. | Nimeni nu minte aici. |
The same strict rule applies to negative adverbs like niciodată (never):
| The student never visits the museum. | Studentul nu vizitează niciodată muzeul. |
Emphasizing Negation
You can add words like absolut (absolutely) to strengthen your negative statements. Even if the sentence has multiple negative words, the verb still requires nu.
| I promise absolutely nothing. | Nu promit absolut nimic. |
Not Even / Neither (nici)
To say "not even" or "neither," use nici. As expected, the verb in the sentence remains negative.
| Not even the student knows anything. | Nici studentul nu știe nimic. |
Nowhere and Not at All
Other common negative adverbs include nicăieri (nowhere / not anywhere) and deloc (at all). Romanian translates English phrases with "any-" by using double negation. "I am not going anywhere" literally becomes "I am not going nowhere."
| We are going nowhere today because we are tired. | Nu mergem nicăieri astăzi pentru că suntem obosiți. |
| The rain does not bother me at all. | Ploaia nu mă deranjează deloc. |
No / Not Any (niciun)
When you want to say "no" or "not any" before a masculine or neuter noun, use the negative adjective niciun. Naturally, it pairs perfectly with a negative verb.
| No friend lies to me. | Niciun prieten nu mă minte. |
| I see no document here. | Nu văd niciun document aici. |
