Nothing in Different Languages | A Beautiful Look at a Simple Word Across Cultures 2026

Learning how to say nothing in different languages may seem simple, but this tiny word carries deep cultural meaning.

It can express silence, refusal, peace, or even philosophical ideas. Understanding how different cultures express “nothing” helps us communicate more respectfully across borders. 

It also builds a stronger connection with global communities who use unique sounds and expressions. If for study, travel, or curiosity, knowing the translation of nothing opens a surprising window into world languages.

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Why Learning ‘Nothing’ in Different Languages Matters

Exploring the meaning of nothing across cultures reveals how emotions and ideas shift from one society to another. 

Many communities use this word not only to express the absence of something, but also to show politeness, calmness, or even a philosophical thought. 

Learning how to say nothing in different languages helps travelers and language lovers understand tone, context, and respect. 

It also strengthens global communication by showing how even the simplest word carries cultural depth.

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Nothing in European Languages

• Spanish: nada (nah-dah)
  
• French: rien (ree-ehn)
  
• German: nichts (nikhts)
  
• Italian: niente (nee-en-tay)
  
• Portuguese: nada (nah-duh)
  
• Dutch: niets (neets)
  
• Polish: nic (neech)
  

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Nothing in Native American Languages

• Navajo: doo baa’ hólóníí’ (doh bah-ho-lo-nee)
  
• Cherokee: ulétsdi (oo-let-jee)
  
• Hopi: pam qöya (pam koh-yah)
  
• Ojibwe: gaawiin gidaa (gaa-ween gih-dah)
  
• Lakota (Sioux): tókša šni (tok-sha shnee)
  
• Muscogee: ēkoswv hē•cē (ee-koh-swa hey-chay)
  
• Apache: kʼǫǫ’ dah (koh-dah)
  

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Nothing in Asian Languages

• Hindi: kuch nahi (kooch nah-hee)
  
• Chinese (Mandarin): méiyǒu shénme (may-yo shen-muh)
  
• Japanese: nanimo nai (na-nee-mo nai)
  
• Korean: amu-geot-do eopda (ah-mu-gut-do up-da)
  
• Thai: mai mee arai (my-mee ah-rai)
  
• Tagalog: wala (wah-lah)
  
• Malay: tiada apa (tee-ah-dah ah-pah)
  

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Nothing in Middle Eastern Languages

• Arabic: la shay’ (lah shay)
  
• Hebrew: klum (kloom)
  
• Turkish: hiçbir şey (heech-beer shey)
  
• Persian (Farsi): hich (heech)
  
• Kurdish: tiştêkî tune (tish-teh-kee too-neh)
  
• Pashto: hich shay (heech shay)
  
• Aramaic: lā medem (lah meh-dem)
  

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Nothing in African Languages

• Swahili: hakuna kitu (ha-koo-na kee-too)
  
• Zulu: lutho (loo-tho)
  
• Yoruba: ko si nkankan (koh-see n-kahn-kahn)
  
• Amharic: minim (mee-neem)
  
• Hausa: babu komai (bah-boo koh-my)
  
• Somali: waxba ma jiro (wakh-bah mah jee-ro)
  
• Igbo: ọ dịghị ihe (oh-dee-gee ee-he)
  

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Nothing in Indigenous Languages

• Maori: kāhore he mea (kah-hore-heh meh-ah)
  
• Hawaiian: ʻaʻohe mea (ah-oh-heh meh-ah)
  
• Inuktitut: ilaak (ee-laak)
  
• Aymara: jani kunasa (hah-nee koo-nah-sah)
  
• Quechua: mana imapas (mah-nah ee-mah-pas)
  
• Tupi: ndéve mba’eve (n-day-vay m-bah-eh-vay)
  
• Guaraní: mba’eve (m-bah-eh-vay)
  

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Nothing in the Iroquoian Language Family

• Mohawk: iahtonhkwa’ (yah-tonk-wah)
  
• Cayuga: kahsera’ne (kah-seh-rah-nay)
  
• Seneca: ga:h ne (gah-neh)
  
• Onondaga: káhskare’ (kah-skah-reh)
  
• Oneida: teyakhá·khwa (tay-yah-khah-kwa)
  
• Tuscarora: ka·yah·kwa (kah-yah-kwa)
  
• Wyandot: hahšare (hah-shah-ray)
  

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Nothing in Plains Languages

• Blackfoot: ááhkssi (ahk-see)
  
• Crow: akaapáa (ah-kah-pah)
  
• Pawnee: itaru’ (ee-tah-roo)
  
• Comanche: tuyóhka (too-yoh-kah)
  
• Arikara: rúxkanu (rook-kah-noo)
  
• Cheyenne: néva’e (nay-vah-eh)
  
• Kiowa: t’áa gya (tah gyah)
  

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Nothing in Southeastern Languages

• Seminole: híccis (hee-seess)
  
• Choctaw: ulhtoba (uhl-toh-bah)
  
• Chickasaw: ittonba’ (it-tohn-bah)
  
• Timucua: ma’lana (mah-lah-nah)
  
• Catawba: heyonto (hey-on-toh)
  
• Yuchi: taye’ (tah-yeh)
  
• Tutelo: wehera (weh-heh-rah)
  

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Nothing in Northwestern Languages

• Tlingit: tléik (tlay-eek)
  
• Haida: t’aláaw (tah-lau)
  
• Salish: sxʷéne (swen-eh)
  
• Tsimshian: hadii (hah-dee)
  
• Chinook: ikawe (ee-kah-way)
  
• Nuu-chah-nulth: yaʔak (yah-akh)
  
• Kwakiutl: tła’xw (tlah-khw)
  

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Nothing in Additional World Languages

• Greek: tipota (tee-po-tah)
  
• Romanian: nimic (nee-meek)
  
• Serbian: ništa (neesh-tah)
  
• Bulgarian: nishto (neesh-toh)
  
• Finnish: ei mitään (ay mee-tahn)
  
• Swedish: inget (ing-yet)
  
• Danish: intet (in-tet)
  
• Norwegian: ingenting (ing-en-ting)
  
• Icelandic: ekkert (eh-kert)
  
• Hungarian: semmi (sheh-mee)
  
• Bengali: kichu na (kee-choo nah)
  
• Urdu: kuch bhi nahi (kuch-bee-na-hee)
  
• Sinhala: monawath ne (mo-na-wath nay)
  
• Vietnamese: không có gì (khom-gaw-zee)
  
• Indonesian: tidak ada apa (tee-dak ah-dah ah-pah)
  

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Examples of Using ‘Nothing’ in Sentences Across Languages

• Spanish: No veo nada. — “I see nothing.”
  
• French: Je ne veux rien. — “I want nothing.”
  
• Arabic: Lā shayʾ ʿindī. — “I have nothing.”
  
• Hindi: Mujhe kuch nahi chahiye. — “I need nothing.”
  
• German: Ich habe nichts gesagt. — “I said nothing.”
  
• Turkish: Hiçbir şey duymadım. — “I heard nothing.”
  
• Japanese: Nanimo wakaranai. — “I understand nothing.”
  
• Swahili: Sina kitu. — “I possess nothing.”
  
• Russian: U menya nichego net. — “I have nothing.”
  
• Korean: Amugeotdo an isseo. — “There is nothing.”
  

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Cultural Meaning of ‘Nothing’ Around the World

In many cultures, “nothing” can reflect calmness or modesty rather than a literal absence. 

Some Asian societies use gentle versions of the word to avoid sounding direct or impolite. 

Indigenous communities often connect the idea of “nothing” with spiritual balance and the natural world. 

In European languages, the expression can show simplicity or clarity. 

Across the Middle East, the concept sometimes carries philosophical depth, representing emptiness or silence. 

Understanding these cultural layers helps us appreciate how one word can hold many interpretations.

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Conclusion

Learning nothing in different languages reveals how even the simplest word connects global cultures. Each translation carries its own rhythm, emotion, and story. 

By exploring these differences, we grow more aware, open-minded, and respectful toward the world’s many voices. Keep learning, stay curious, and continue embracing the beauty of multilingual communication.