NegativesWords with negative connotations

Some words in German are not actually negative words, but nonetheless are used in a negative context.

Hilfsvokabeln– Helpful vocabulary

• sondern (adv) – but (rather)
• weder... noch... (adv) – neither... nor...
• kaum (adv) – hardly
• doch (adv) – indeed, yes (when contradicting a negative statement)

sondern

There are two German words for 'but' – aber and sondern. However, they are used in different contexts.

The word aber is a common conjunction that means 'but'. It links two sentences and provides additional information. It does not change the word order, eg:

• Ich lese gern, aber ich sehe lieber fern. – I like reading, but I prefer to watch television.
• Ich habe kein Haustier, aber ich hätte gern eine Katze. – I don't have a pet, but I would like a cat.
• Wir wollten schwimmen gehen, aber wir mussten zu Hause bleiben. – We wanted to go swimming, but we had to stay at home.

While sondern is also a conjunction that means 'but', it is used differently from aber.

It contradicts or negates what the first sentence says. It almost means 'but rather'.

• Ich gehe nicht wandern, sondern ich fahre Rad. – I'm not going hiking, but I am going cycling.
• Ich lerne nicht Klavier, sondern ich lerne Flöte. – I am not learning the piano, but I am learning the flute.
• Er kommt nicht aus der Schweiz, sondern aus Österreich. – He doesn't come from Switzerland, but (he comes) from Austria.
• Sie will nicht diese Schuhe, sondern die anderen. – She doesn't want these shoes, but (she wants) the others.
• Ich habe keine Wurst gekauft, sondern Schinken. – I didn't buy any sausage, but (I bought) ham.

It is also used in the construction nicht nur, sondern auch – not only, but also.

• es ist nicht nur groß, sondern auch sehr schwer – it is not only big, but also very heavy

weder...noch...

A similar negative construction is weder... noch... - neither...nor...

• er ist weder dick, noch schlank – he is neither fat, nor slim