Meaning
To have absolutely no interest or willingness to do something.
Cultural Background
The 'Null-Bock-Generation' of the 1980s used this phrase to express political apathy and a rejection of the 'Leistungsgesellschaft' (meritocratic society). In Berlin, the phrase is often delivered with a specific 'Berliner Schnauze' (Berlin snout) attitude—dry, direct, and slightly grumpy. Modern German youth often shorten it even further in texts to '0 Bock' or just use the 'Bock' part ('Kein Bock'). While still slang, some 'cool' startups use 'Bock' in their job ads to sound young (e.g., 'Hast du Bock auf neue Challenges?'). However, 'null Bock' remains a negative sentiment you wouldn't use there.
The 'Null' Power
Using 'null' instead of 'kein' makes you sound much more like a native speaker who is genuinely annoyed or unmotivated.
Watch the Boss
Never use this phrase with anyone you address as 'Sie' unless you have a very close, informal relationship.
Meaning
To have absolutely no interest or willingness to do something.
The 'Null' Power
Using 'null' instead of 'kein' makes you sound much more like a native speaker who is genuinely annoyed or unmotivated.
Watch the Boss
Never use this phrase with anyone you address as 'Sie' unless you have a very close, informal relationship.
Honesty vs. Rudeness
Germans value honesty, so saying 'null Bock' to a friend is often better than making up a fake excuse.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct preposition and article (Accusative).
Ich habe heute null Bock ______ ______ (the) Hausaufgaben.
The idiom 'null Bock haben' always uses 'auf' + Accusative. 'Hausaufgaben' is plural, so the article is 'die'.
Which response is most appropriate for a close friend asking you to go jogging when you are tired?
Freund: 'Wollen wir eine Runde joggen gehen?'
'Nee, echt null Bock gerade' is a natural, slangy way to decline a friend's offer. 'Ich bin null Bock' is grammatically incorrect.
Match the phrase to the correct context.
Where would you NEVER say 'Ich habe null Bock'?
'Null Bock' is highly informal/slang and would be considered contempt of court or extremely disrespectful in a formal legal setting.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of 'haben'.
A: Warum hast du gestern nicht angerufen? B: Ich ______ einfach null Bock auf Telefonieren.
The question is in the past ('gestern'), so the answer should use the Präteritum 'hatte'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Formal vs. Slang
Practice Bank
4 exercisesIch habe heute null Bock ______ ______ (the) Hausaufgaben.
The idiom 'null Bock haben' always uses 'auf' + Accusative. 'Hausaufgaben' is plural, so the article is 'die'.
Freund: 'Wollen wir eine Runde joggen gehen?'
'Nee, echt null Bock gerade' is a natural, slangy way to decline a friend's offer. 'Ich bin null Bock' is grammatically incorrect.
Where would you NEVER say 'Ich habe null Bock'?
'Null Bock' is highly informal/slang and would be considered contempt of court or extremely disrespectful in a formal legal setting.
A: Warum hast du gestern nicht angerufen? B: Ich ______ einfach null Bock auf Telefonieren.
The question is in the past ('gestern'), so the answer should use the Präteritum 'hatte'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it's not vulgar or a swear word, but it is very informal slang. It's safe to use with friends.
Yes! 'Ich habe null Bock auf ihn' means 'I have zero interest in seeing/dealing with him'.
'Null Bock' is more emphatic. It's like the difference between 'no interest' and 'zero interest'.
No, you must always use the verb 'haben'.
Yes, it is widely understood and used across the entire DACH region.
Absolutely not! That would be a disaster. Use 'Ich brauche manchmal Zeit, um mich zu motivieren' instead.
In a dictionary, yes. In daily life, it's used more often in this idiom than to refer to the animal.
The opposite is 'voll Bock haben' or 'richtig Bock haben'.
You can say 'null Lust', but 'null Bock' is much more common in slang.
It's just a fixed prepositional idiom. You have 'Bock AUF' something.
Related Phrases
keine Lust haben
similarTo not feel like doing something.
voll Bock haben
contrastTo be really excited to do something.
keinen Nerv haben
similarTo not have the nerves/patience for something.
die Schnauze voll haben
builds onTo be fed up with something.
