Saying no
Not, don't, nothing, nobody and never.
לֹא lo means both "no" and "not". It goes right before the word it negates, usually the verb. It works the same in every tense.
- ani lo yode'aI don't know.a man speaking
- hi lo gara poShe doesn't live here.
- hamarak lo khamThe soup isn't hot.
- hem lo ba'uThey didn't come.
- lo, todaNo, thank you.
אֵין: there isn't
"There isn't" and "don't have" use אֵין ein, not לֹא; see There is and having.
אַל: don't
For "don't", use אַל al with the future tense, never with the command form. See Infinitives and commands.
- al tid'agDon't worry.to a man
- al tid'agiDon't worry.to a woman
Nothing, nobody, never
These words go with לֹא or אֵין in the same sentence, like a double negative.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| כְּלוּם klum | nothing, anything |
| אַף אֶחָד af ekhad | nobody, anybody |
| אַף פַּעַם af pa'am | never, ever |
| שׁוּם shum | no, any (before a noun) |
| בִּכְלָל bikhlal | at all |
| עוֹד לֹא od lo | not yet |
- lo ra'iti klumI didn't see anything.
- af ekhad lo baNobody came.
- hu af pa'am lo me'akherHe's never late.
- ein shum be'ayaThere's no problem at all.
- hi od lo higi'aShe hasn't arrived yet.
Cards from this guide
9 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Sentences cards.
Where does לֹא (lo, not) go in a sentence?
Right before the word it negates, usually the verb.
How do you say 'there isn't' or 'don't have' in Hebrew?
With אֵין (ein), not לֹא.
What word says 'don't' in a command like 'don't worry'?
אַל (al), followed by the future tense.
What else must a sentence with כְּלוּם (klum, nothing) contain?
לֹא or אֵין.
How do you say 'nobody' in Hebrew?
אַף אֶחָד (af ekhad).
How do you say 'never' in Hebrew?
אַף פַּעַם (af pa'am), with לֹא.
What does שׁוּם (shum) mean before a noun in a negative sentence?
'No' or 'any', as in 'no problem at all'.
What does בִּכְלָל (bikhlal) add to a negative sentence?
'At all'.
How do you say 'not yet' in Hebrew?
עוֹד לֹא (od lo).