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ni... ni...

B1 conjunction 10 min read

ni... ni...

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips ni... ni... in 30 Seconds

Explanation ni... ni... in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn how to say 'no'. You likely know 'ne... pas'. The structure 'ni... ni...' is a small step up that helps you list things you don't like or don't have. For now, focus on using it with simple nouns. For example, if you want to say you don't have a brother or a sister, you can say: 'Je n'ai ni frère ni sœur.' Notice that you don't say 'un frère' or 'une sœur'—the 'un' and 'une' disappear! This is the most important rule for beginners. Use it to talk about your basic preferences: 'Je n'aime ni le tennis ni le foot.' At this stage, keep your sentences short and focus on the 'ne... ni... ni...' pattern. It is much better than saying 'Je n'aime pas le tennis et je n'aime pas le foot,' which is very repetitive. By using 'ni', you sound more like a real French speaker. Remember: 'ne' goes before the verb, and 'ni' goes before each thing you are excluding. You can use it for food, family, hobbies, and colors. It's a great way to make your basic descriptions more interesting and accurate.

As an A2 learner, you are building more complex sentences. You can now use 'ni... ni...' to connect not just nouns, but also adjectives and infinitives (verbs). For example, to describe a person, you might say: 'Il n'est ni grand ni petit.' Or to describe a task: 'Ce n'est ni facile ni difficile.' When connecting infinitives, remember that the 'ne' stays with the main conjugated verb: 'Je ne sais ni nager ni danser.' At this level, you should also pay attention to the definite articles (le, la, les). Unlike 'un' or 'du', the definite articles stay in the sentence. 'Je n'aime ni le café ni le thé.' You are also learning to use it in the past tense (passé composé). Just remember that 'ne' goes before the auxiliary verb: 'Je n'ai acheté ni pain ni lait.' Practice using 'ni... ni...' to give more detailed answers to questions. Instead of just saying 'No', explain what you don't want or don't like using this double negation. It helps you link ideas together more smoothly and avoids the 'robotic' feel of repeating 'ne... pas' multiple times in a row.

At the B1 level, you are expected to handle 'ni... ni...' with more grammatical precision, especially regarding verb agreement and complex sentence structures. When 'ni... ni...' is the subject of your sentence, you must remember to use a plural verb. 'Ni mon père ni ma mère ne parlent anglais.' This is a classic B1 grammar point. You should also be comfortable using 'ni' with more than two items: 'Il ne veut ni pain, ni vin, ni fromage.' Furthermore, you can start using it with the preposition 'sans'. In the structure 'sans... ni...', the 'ne' is omitted because 'sans' is already negative. 'Il est parti sans dire au revoir ni fermer la porte.' This level also involves understanding the nuance between using 'ni' and 'non plus'. You should use 'ni... ni...' within a single clause to link objects or subjects, whereas 'non plus' is used to add a second negative sentence or as a short response. Mastering 'ni... ni...' at B1 allows you to express your thoughts with more nuance and to participate in discussions about preferences, plans, and descriptions with greater sophistication.

At the B2 level, you should use 'ni... ni...' fluently in both speech and writing to create balance and emphasis. You are now exploring more abstract uses. It’s not just about 'bread and milk' anymore; it's about ideas and concepts. 'Cette décision n'est ni juste ni efficace.' You should also be aware of the stylistic effects of 'ni... ni...'. It is often used in formal arguments to rule out multiple hypotheses. 'L'enquête n'a révélé ni preuve de vol ni signe d'effraction.' You are also expected to use it correctly with compound tenses and with pronominal verbs. 'Ils ne se sont ni parlé ni regardé pendant toute la soirée.' Notice how the past participle agreement works here (or doesn't, depending on the direct object). You should also be able to recognize 'ni' used in literary contexts where the 'ne' might be omitted for stylistic reasons, although you should continue to use 'ne' in your own production. At B2, your use of 'ni... ni...' should feel natural and effortless, helping you to construct well-organized arguments and descriptions that avoid the clumsiness of multiple separate negative sentences.

For C1 learners, 'ni... ni...' becomes a tool for rhetorical precision and stylistic elegance. You should use it to create 'ternary' structures (three items) which are very common in French oratory. 'Ce projet ne manque ni d'ambition, ni de ressources, ni de soutien populaire.' You are also refining your understanding of the most subtle rules, such as the rare cases where a singular verb is permitted after a 'ni... ni...' subject (when the two subjects are mutually exclusive). You can also use 'ni' to link entire subordinate clauses, which requires careful management of the 'ne' particle. 'Je ne pense pas qu'il vienne, ni qu'il appelle.' Although 'ni' is usually for nouns/adjectives, this 'ni que' structure is a hallmark of advanced French. You should also be able to use 'ni' in the middle of a sentence to add a negative afterthought: 'Il a refusé tout compromis, ni même une simple discussion.' This level of mastery allows you to use the conjunction to control the rhythm and impact of your prose, making your French sound not just correct, but truly sophisticated and persuasive.

At the C2 level, you possess a native-like command of 'ni... ni...', including its most archaic and literary applications. You can use it without the first 'ne' in certain poetic or highly formal contexts, a structure known as 'l'omission du premier ne'. 'Ni l'or ni la grandeur ne nous rendent heureux.' You understand how 'ni' can be used to link varied grammatical categories for specific stylistic effects. You are also capable of identifying and using 'ni' in complex legal or philosophical texts where the scope of negation must be perfectly clear. You can manipulate the structure to create parallelism and chiasmus in your writing. Your usage is characterized by a perfect sense of 'le mot juste'—knowing exactly when 'ni... ni...' is superior to 'non plus' or 'sans... ni...' for the desired tone. You can also handle 'ni' in complex negative contexts involving other words like 'aucun', 'guère', or 'jamais' without creating grammatical confusion. At this level, 'ni... ni...' is no longer a grammar rule to be followed, but a flexible stylistic device that you use to craft nuanced, high-level French discourse.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

ni... ni... in 30 Seconds

Used to say 'neither... nor...' in French to exclude two or more things.
Requires the 'ne' particle before the verb, but never use 'pas' with it.
Indefinite and partitive articles (un, du) are dropped after 'ni'.
When used as a subject, the verb usually takes the plural form.

The French conjunction ni... ni... is a sophisticated and essential tool for expressing double negation, functioning almost identically to the English structure 'neither... nor...'. It allows speakers to exclude two or more possibilities, qualities, or actions simultaneously within a single sentence. While beginners often rely on simple negations like 'pas de... et pas de...', mastering ni... ni... elevates your French to a more natural, fluid, and precise level. It is used in everyday conversation, formal writing, and literary contexts to create a balanced sense of exclusion.

Core Function: To link two or more elements that are being negated or excluded from a situation.

One of the most critical aspects of using this conjunction is its relationship with the negative particle ne. In French, ni... ni... requires the presence of ne before the main verb of the sentence. This creates a tripartite negative structure that reinforces the exclusion. For example, instead of saying 'I don't like tea and I don't like coffee,' a French speaker would say 'Je ne bois ni thé ni café.'

Je ne veux ni la pomme ni la poire.

People use this word when they want to be definitive about their preferences or the lack of certain conditions. It is particularly common when discussing diets (neither meat nor fish), weather (neither sun nor rain), or decision-making (neither yes nor no). It provides a rhythmic quality to the language, often used in rhetoric to emphasize a total lack of options.

Grammatical Nuance: When 'ni... ni...' links two subjects, the verb is typically conjugated in the plural because both subjects are involved in the negation.

In terms of register, 'ni... ni...' is perfectly acceptable in all levels of French. However, in very informal spoken French, speakers might occasionally omit the 'ne', though this is grammatically incorrect. In formal writing, the structure is strictly adhered to, often appearing in legal documents or philosophical treatises to define boundaries and exclusions clearly.

Ni le vent ni la pluie ne m'empêcheront de venir.

Furthermore, 'ni' can be repeated more than twice if you are listing three or more items. 'Je ne mange ni viande, ni poisson, ni œufs.' This flexibility makes it a powerful tool for comprehensive lists of exclusions. It is the architectural backbone of negative coordination in French, bridging nouns, adjectives, and even whole clauses.

Using ni... ni... correctly requires attention to three main areas: the placement of the 'ne' particle, the treatment of articles, and verb agreement. Let's break down these mechanics to ensure you can construct complex sentences with confidence.

Rule 1: The Ne Particle: In a standard sentence where 'ni... ni...' follows a verb, the verb must be preceded by 'ne'. Note that 'pas' is NEVER used with 'ni'. Adding 'pas' would create a double negative error.

Il ne sait ni lire ni écrire.

When 'ni... ni...' is used with infinitives, the 'ne' stays before the conjugated auxiliary or the main verb. If you are negating two actions, the 'ni' precedes each infinitive. This is common when describing skills or lack thereof.

Rule 2: Dropping Articles: This is the most common mistake for English speakers. In French, when you use 'ni... ni...', the indefinite articles (un, une, des) and partitive articles (du, de la, de l') vanish. You jump straight from 'ni' to the noun.

Elle ne porte ni chapeau ni gants.

However, definite articles (le, la, les) represent specific things and must remain. 'Je n'aime ni le jazz ni l'opéra.' Here, you are talking about the genres in general, so the definite article is required. Similarly, possessive adjectives (mon, ton, son) and demonstrative adjectives (ce, cette) are always retained.

Rule 3: Verb Agreement: If 'Ni A ni B' is the subject of the sentence, the verb should be plural. 'Ni le rouge ni le bleu ne me vont.' (Neither red nor blue suit me). The logic is that both colors are failing to suit you.

Ni Paul ni Marie ne sont venus à la fête.

There is a small exception: if only one of the two subjects can possibly perform the action (for example, being the winner of a single prize), the verb can be singular. 'Ni l'un ni l'autre n'est le coupable.' But in 95% of cases, stick to the plural for safety and naturalness.

You will encounter ni... ni... in a variety of real-world French settings, ranging from the mundane to the highly poetic. Because it is a more 'structured' way of speaking, it often appears when someone is trying to be very clear or emphatic about their boundaries or choices.

In a French restaurant or café, you might hear a customer explaining dietary restrictions. A waiter might ask if they want cream or sugar in their coffee, to which they respond: 'Je ne prends ni sucre ni lait, merci.' This is more elegant than saying 'Pas de sucre et pas de lait.' It sounds decisive and polite.

Ce plat ne contient ni gluten ni lactose.

In the news and political discourse, 'ni... ni...' is a favorite of commentators and politicians. It is used to describe a position of neutrality or a refusal to take sides. A famous political strategy in France was the 'Ni-Ni' policy, where a party refused to call for a vote for either of two opposing candidates from other parties. You will hear journalists say, 'Le président n'a choisi ni la réforme radicale ni le statu quo.'

News Context: Used to describe 'deadlock' or 'neutrality' in negotiations or elections.

In literature and music, 'ni... ni...' provides a rhythmic, almost hypnotic quality. Think of the famous Edith Piaf song lyrics or classic French poetry where the repetition of 'ni' creates a sense of total emptiness or absolute focus. It’s used to strip away distractions. 'Je ne regrette ni le bien qu'on m'a fait, ni le mal...' (I regret neither the good done to me, nor the bad...).

L'amour n'est ni une science ni un art, c'est un mystère.

In professional environments, you will hear it during project evaluations. A manager might say, 'Ce rapport n'est ni précis ni complet.' This is a common way to give constructive but firm criticism. It sounds more professional than using 'pas' multiple times. It sets a clear standard by highlighting multiple missing criteria.

Finally, you will hear it in common idiomatic expressions like 'ni vu ni connu' (literally 'neither seen nor known'), which means 'stealthily' or 'without anyone noticing'. This is a staple of French storytelling and casual conversation when someone has pulled off a small trick or avoided getting caught.

Even advanced learners often stumble when using ni... ni... because it interacts with other parts of French grammar in unique ways. Avoiding these five common pitfalls will make your French sound significantly more authentic.

Mistake 1: Using 'Pas': The most frequent error is saying 'Je ne veux pas ni...'. In French, 'ni' replaces 'pas'. You only need the 'ne' particle. Adding 'pas' is like saying 'I don't want not neither...' in English.

Incorrect: Je ne mange pas ni viande ni poisson.
Correct: Je ne mange ni viande ni poisson.

The absence of 'pas' is what makes the sentence 'ni... ni...' structure. If you include 'pas', the sentence becomes cluttered and grammatically 'broken' to a native ear.

Mistake 2: Keeping Partitive/Indefinite Articles: Learners often want to say 'ni du café ni du thé'. However, 'du', 'de la', 'des', 'un', and 'une' must be deleted. You go directly from 'ni' to the noun.

This rule is confusing because definite articles (le, la, les) are NOT deleted. So, you say 'Je n'aime ni le café ni le thé' (definite), but 'Je ne bois ni café ni thé' (partitive/indefinite context). If you are referring to the substance in general after a verb of consumption, drop the article.

Incorrect: Il n'a ni un chien ni un chat.
Correct: Il n'a ni chien ni chat.

Mistake 3: Singular Verbs with Double Subjects: When the subject of the sentence is 'Ni A ni B', the verb must be plural. English speakers often use the singular because 'neither' can feel singular in English ('Neither is...'). In French, it's 'Ni l'un ni l'autre ne sont...'.

Think of it as the opposite of 'et' (and). If 'John and Mary are not here,' then 'Neither John nor Mary are here' follows the same plural logic in French grammar.

Finally, Mistake 5 involves the placement of 'ne' with compound tenses. With 'passé composé', the 'ne' goes before the auxiliary 'avoir' or 'être'. 'Je n'ai vu ni Paul ni Jacques.' Some learners try to put 'ne' elsewhere, which disrupts the sentence structure.

While ni... ni... is the standard for 'neither... nor...', French offers several other ways to express exclusion depending on the context and the level of formality you wish to achieve.

Non plus: Meaning 'either' or 'neither' in short responses. If someone says 'I don't like coffee,' you respond 'Moi non plus' (Me neither). You can't use 'ni' in this short, standalone way.

If you want to link two negative sentences that are not objects of the same verb, you use 'et... ne... pas... non plus'. For example: 'Je ne travaille pas aujourd'hui, et je ne travaille pas demain non plus.' This is less formal than 'Je ne travaille ni aujourd'hui ni demain.'

Je n'aime pas le thé, et je n'aime pas le café non plus.

Sans... ni...: When you use the preposition 'sans' (without), you don't use 'ne'. Instead, you use 'ni' to link the excluded items. 'Il est parti sans valise ni sac.' (He left without a suitcase or a bag).

This is a very common alternative structure. 'Sans' already carries a negative weight, so 'ni' acts as the coordinator without needing the 'ne' particle. It is sleek and efficient for describing a lack of multiple things.

Un café sans sucre ni lait.

Soit... soit... (The Affirmative Mirror): This means 'either... or...'. It is the direct opposite of 'ni... ni...'. If you are offering a choice rather than an exclusion, use this. 'C'est soit l'un, soit l'autre.'

Another alternative for 'either... or...' is 'ou... ou...'. While 'ni... ni...' is very common, 'ou... ou...' is slightly less frequent than just using a single 'ou', but it provides the same balanced emphasis as 'ni... ni...' does for negatives.

In very formal or archaic French, you might see 'ne... ni...' where the first 'ni' is omitted, but this is rare in modern speech. Stick to the 'ne... ni... ni...' pattern for clarity. For advanced learners, understanding 'non plus' vs 'ni' is the key to sounding like a native speaker.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In very old French, 'ne' was used for both the verb negation and the conjunction. The switch to 'ni' helped clarify sentences so people knew if a list was starting or if the verb was just being negated.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ni/ ... /ni/

US /ni/ ... /ni/

Equal stress on both 'ni' particles. They are usually spoken quickly as they lead into the nouns they modify.

Rhymes With

si lit vie prix cri ami parti fini

Common Errors

Pronouncing it like 'nye' (rhyming with 'pie').
Making the vowel too long like 'neeee'.
Adding a nasal sound to the 'n'.
Dropping the 'n' sound entirely.
Misplacing the stress on the 'ne' particle instead of the 'ni'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize as 'neither... nor...'.

Writing 4/5

Difficult due to article omission and 'ne' placement rules.

Speaking 3/5

Requires practice to avoid saying 'pas' out of habit.

Listening 2/5

Clear sound, but the 'ne' can be very subtle in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

ne... pas et ou le/la/les un/une/des

Learn Next

soit... soit... non plus aucun personne rien

Advanced

ne... guère ne... point subjunctive with ni que past participle agreement with ni

Grammar to Know

Omission of Indefinite Articles

Je n'ai ni chien ni chat. (Not 'un chien')

Retention of Definite Articles

Je n'aime ni le jazz ni le rock.

Plural Verb Agreement

Ni Pierre ni Paul ne sont là.

Ne without Pas

Il ne boit ni vin ni eau. (Never 'ne boit pas ni...')

Sans with Ni

Un homme sans peur ni reproche.

Examples by Level

Je ne bois ni thé ni café.

I drink neither tea nor coffee.

Notice the absence of 'du' before tea and coffee.

Il n'aime ni le bleu ni le vert.

He likes neither blue nor green.

Definite articles 'le' are kept here.

Elle n'a ni frère ni sœur.

She has neither a brother nor a sister.

The indefinite articles 'un/une' are dropped.

Nous ne mangeons ni viande ni poisson.

We eat neither meat nor fish.

Commonly used for dietary restrictions.

Ce n'est ni grand ni petit.

It is neither big nor small.

Using 'ni' to link two adjectives.

Je ne veux ni pomme ni orange.

I want neither an apple nor an orange.

Direct objects with 'ni'.

Il ne fait ni chaud ni froid.

It is neither hot nor cold.

Common weather expression.

Elle ne parle ni anglais ni français.

She speaks neither English nor French.

Linking two languages.

Je ne sais ni nager ni patiner.

I can neither swim nor skate.

Linking two infinitives.

Il n'a acheté ni pain ni beurre.

He bought neither bread nor butter.

Passé composé: 'ne' goes before 'a'.

Cette robe n'est ni rouge ni rose.

This dress is neither red nor pink.

Comparing colors with adjectives.

Ils ne veulent ni sortir ni rester ici.

They want neither to go out nor to stay here.

Negative choice between two actions.

Elle n'est ni riche ni pauvre.

She is neither rich nor poor.

Describing status with adjectives.

Je n'ai vu ni le film ni la pièce.

I have seen neither the movie nor the play.

Keeping definite articles in the past tense.

Il ne travaille ni le samedi ni le dimanche.

He works neither Saturday nor Sunday.

Temporal exclusion.

Ce n'est ni mon chat ni mon chien.

It is neither my cat nor my dog.

Possessive adjectives are kept.

Ni Paul ni Marie ne viendront ce soir.

Neither Paul nor Marie will come tonight.

The verb 'viendront' is plural because the subject is double.

Il est parti sans sac ni valise.

He left without a bag or a suitcase.

With 'sans', the 'ne' is omitted.

Ce projet n'est ni réaliste ni rentable.

This project is neither realistic nor profitable.

Professional context with adjectives.

Je ne bois ni vin, ni bière, ni alcool.

I drink neither wine, nor beer, nor alcohol.

Using 'ni' for a list of three items.

Ni l'un ni l'autre ne sont d'accord.

Neither one nor the other agrees.

Standard plural agreement for 'ni l'un ni l'autre'.

Elle ne veut ni ton aide ni tes conseils.

She wants neither your help nor your advice.

Linking possessive structures.

L'hôtel n'était ni propre ni confortable.

The hotel was neither clean nor comfortable.

Imperfect tense description.

Il ne sait ni d'où elle vient ni qui elle est.

He knows neither where she comes from nor who she is.

Linking two subordinate clauses.

Ils ne se sont ni parlé ni regardé.

They neither spoke to nor looked at each other.

Pronominal verb with double negation.

Le suspect n'a ni avoué ni nié les faits.

The suspect has neither confessed to nor denied the facts.

Formal legal/police context.

Cette mesure n'est ni populaire ni nécessaire.

This measure is neither popular nor necessary.

Political/Abstract adjectives.

Je n'ai reçu ni lettre ni appel de sa part.

I received neither a letter nor a call from him.

Omission of indefinite articles 'une/un'.

Ni la pluie ni le vent ne l'ont arrêté.

Neither the rain nor the wind stopped him.

Plural verb agreement in the past tense.

Il ne semble ni triste ni heureux de partir.

He seems neither sad nor happy to leave.

Describing complex emotions.

L'appartement n'est ni meublé ni chauffé.

The apartment is neither furnished nor heated.

Real estate context.

On ne peut ni confirmer ni infirmer cette rumeur.

We can neither confirm nor deny this rumor.

Standard formal bureaucratic phrase.

L'œuvre ne manque ni de souffle ni de poésie.

The work lacks neither breath nor poetry.

Using 'ni' with the preposition 'de'.

Il n'est ni pour ni contre, bien au contraire.

He is neither for nor against, quite the opposite.

Linking prepositions.

Je ne crois pas qu'il ait menti, ni qu'il sache la vérité.

I don't believe he lied, nor that he knows the truth.

Linking two 'que' clauses in the subjunctive.

Ni le temps ni l'oubli ne pourront effacer ce souvenir.

Neither time nor oblivion will be able to erase this memory.

Literary and poetic subject.

Ce n'est ni plus ni moins qu'une trahison.

It is neither more nor less than a betrayal.

Fixed expression for emphasis.

Il n'a ni famille, ni amis, ni attaches.

He has neither family, nor friends, nor ties.

Rhetorical triple negation.

Le texte n'est ni trop long ni trop court, il est parfait.

The text is neither too long nor too short; it is perfect.

Using 'trop' with 'ni'.

Il n'a manifesté ni colère ni surprise à l'annonce du verdict.

He showed neither anger nor surprise at the announcement of the verdict.

Formal noun exclusion.

Ni l'or ni la grandeur ne nous rendent heureux.

Neither gold nor grandeur makes us happy.

Omission of the first 'ne' in high literary style.

Elle ne craignait ni Dieu ni Diable.

She feared neither God nor Devil.

Idiomatic and literary expression.

Le traité ne prévoit ni compensation financière ni excuses officielles.

The treaty provides for neither financial compensation nor official apologies.

Precision in legal/diplomatic French.

L'esprit humain n'est ni une machine ni une table rase.

The human mind is neither a machine nor a blank slate.

Philosophical discourse.

Il n'a agi ni par intérêt ni par méchanceté.

He acted neither out of self-interest nor out of malice.

Linking prepositional phrases starting with 'par'.

Ni rire ni pleurer, mais comprendre.

Neither to laugh nor to cry, but to understand.

Elliptical literary structure.

Ce n'est ni une fin en soi, ni un commencement.

It is neither an end in itself nor a beginning.

Abstract conceptual negation.

Il n'y avait ni bruit, ni mouvement, ni vie dans cette maison.

There was neither noise, nor movement, nor life in this house.

Descriptive atmospheric list.

Common Collocations

Ni l'un ni l'autre

Ni plus ni moins

Ni vu ni connu

Ni chaud ni froid

Sans rime ni raison

Ni queue ni tête

Ni pour ni contre

Ni bien ni mal

Ni oui ni non

Ni chair ni poisson

Common Phrases

Cela ne me fait ni chaud ni froid.

— I don't care about it at all. It leaves me indifferent.

Que tu partes ou que tu restes, ça ne me fait ni chaud ni froid.

Sans foi ni loi.

— Describing someone who is lawless or has no morals. Ruthless.

C'est un criminel sans foi ni loi.

Ni vu ni connu.

— To do something without being noticed. Stealthily.

J'ai pris le dernier gâteau, ni vu ni connu !

N'avoir ni queue ni tête.

— To make no sense at all. To be incoherent.

Ton explication n'a ni queue ni tête.

Ni plus ni moins.

— Exactly that. Nothing more and nothing less.

C'est une insulte, ni plus ni moins.

Sans rime ni raison.

— Without any logic or sense. Randomly.

Il a démissionné sans rime ni raison.

Ni l'un ni l'autre.

— Neither one nor the other. None of them.

Lequel préfères-tu ? Ni l'un ni l'autre.

N'être ni chair ni poisson.

— To be neither one thing nor another. To lack a clear identity.

Son nouveau style n'est ni chair ni poisson.

Ni une ni deux.

— Without hesitating. Right away.

Ni une ni deux, il a sauté dans l'eau.

Sans peur ni reproche.

— Beyond reproach. Perfect and brave (historical reference to Chevalier Bayard).

C'était un chevalier sans peur ni reproche.

Often Confused With

ni... ni... vs non plus

Used for 'neither' in responses, whereas 'ni' is a connector inside a sentence.

ni... ni... vs pas... ou...

Less formal way to say 'not X or Y', but doesn't have the same balanced 'neither/nor' meaning.

ni... ni... vs sans

Used to mean 'without', and can be followed by 'ni', but doesn't use 'ne'.

Idioms & Expressions

"Ni vu ni connu, j't'embrouille"

— A playful way to say someone is being sneaky or deceptive.

Il a changé les chiffres, ni vu ni connu, j't'embrouille !

informal

"N'avoir ni sou ni maille"

— To be completely broke. To have no money at all.

Après ses vacances, il n'a ni sou ni maille.

old-fashioned

"Ni Dieu ni maître"

— A slogan expressing total independence or anarchism.

Il vit sa vie selon la devise : ni Dieu ni maître.

political

"Ni figue ni raisin"

— To be half-hearted or ambiguous. Not clearly one thing or another.

Sa réponse était ni figue ni raisin.

neutral

"N'avoir ni feu ni lieu"

— To be homeless. To have no hearth or home.

Le pauvre homme n'avait ni feu ni lieu.

literary

"Ni peu ni prou"

— Not much at all. Hardly anything.

Cela ne m'a aidé ni peu ni prou.

archaic

"Ni or ni argent"

— To have nothing of value.

Il est riche de cœur mais n'a ni or ni argent.

literary

"Sans tambour ni trompette"

— Discreetly, without making a fuss or attracting attention.

Ils sont partis sans tambour ni trompette.

neutral

"Ni vu ni connu (je t'ai eu)"

— I did it without you noticing (and I got you).

J'ai gagné la course, ni vu ni connu !

informal

"N'avoir ni art ni part"

— To have nothing to do with something. To be uninvolved.

Je n'ai ni art ni part dans cette affaire.

formal

Easily Confused

ni... ni... vs si

Sounds similar in some accents.

'Si' means 'if' or 'so', 'ni' means 'nor'.

Si tu viens... / Ni lui ni moi.

ni... ni... vs ne

Both are part of the negation.

'Ne' is the particle before the verb; 'ni' is the conjunction between nouns.

Je ne sais ni quoi dire ni quoi faire.

ni... ni... vs n'y

Homophones in fast speech.

'N'y' is 'ne' + 'y' (there).

Il n'y a ni pain ni eau.

ni... ni... vs nid

Exact homophone.

'Nid' is a bird's nest.

Il y a un nid dans l'arbre.

ni... ni... vs nie

Homophone (from the verb nier).

'Nie' is a conjugated form of 'to deny'.

Il nie tout.

Sentence Patterns

Je ne + [verb] + ni + [noun] + ni + [noun].

Je ne mange ni viande ni poisson.

Il ne + [verb] + ni + [infinitive] + ni + [infinitive].

Il ne sait ni lire ni écrire.

Ni + [subject] + ni + [subject] + ne + [plural verb].

Ni Marie ni Jean ne sont venus.

Sans + [noun] + ni + [noun].

Un café sans sucre ni lait.

Ne + [auxiliary] + ni + [past participle] + ni + [past participle].

Il n'a ni ri ni pleuré.

Ne + [verb] + ni + [que-clause] + ni + [que-clause].

Je ne veux ni qu'il parte ni qu'il reste.

Ni + [noun] + ni + [noun] + ne + [verb]. (Literary)

Ni fleurs ni couronnes ne furent envoyées.

Ni + [adjective], ni + [adjective], [subject] + [verb].

Ni riche, ni pauvre, il vivait heureux.

Word Family

non

pas

aucun

nul

How to Use It

frequency

High (essential for basic and advanced negation)

Common Mistakes

Je ne veux pas ni thé ni café. → Je ne veux ni thé ni café.
You cannot use 'pas' and 'ni' together. 'Ni' provides the negation itself along with 'ne'.
Je n'ai ni un chien ni un chat. → Je n'ai ni chien ni chat.
Indefinite articles (un/une) are dropped after 'ni'.
Ni Paul ni Marie n'est là. → Ni Paul ni Marie ne sont là.
When 'ni... ni...' is the subject, the verb must be plural.
Je n'aime ni café ni thé. → Je n'aime ni le café ni le thé.
Definite articles (le/la/les) must be kept, unlike indefinite ones.
Il est parti sans ne dire ni au revoir. → Il est parti sans dire ni au revoir...
After 'sans', the 'ne' particle is not used.

Tips

The 'Pas' Exclusion Rule

Always remember that 'ni' and 'pas' are enemies. They never appear together in the same clause. If you have 'ni', delete 'pas' immediately.

Article Vanishing Act

Imagine 'un', 'une', and 'des' as ghosts that disappear when 'ni' shows up. 'Je n'ai ni frère ni sœur' sounds much more native than keeping the articles.

Rhythm is Key

Try to say 'ni... ni...' with a slight bounce. It helps the listener realize you are listing exclusions before you even finish the sentence.

Plural Agreement

When 'Ni A ni B' starts your sentence, always look at your verb and make sure it has a plural ending like -ent or -ons.

Master 'Ni vu ni connu'

This is one of the most useful idioms in French. Use it whenever you talk about doing something sneaky or avoiding a problem quietly.

The Silent 'Ne'

In fast conversation, the 'ne' might be silent. If you hear 'ni... ni...', assume the sentence is negative even if you didn't hear the 'ne'.

Subjunctive Pairing

For advanced levels, remember 'ni que' can link two clauses. 'Je ne veux pas qu'il vienne ni qu'il appelle'.

Dietary Refusals

Use 'sans... ni...' for a very polite way to order food without specific ingredients. It sounds very sophisticated.

Double Negation Logic

Think of 'ni... ni...' as a mathematical bracket that applies the 'ne' to two different items at once.

Literary Flair

In your essays, use 'ni... ni...' instead of 'ne... pas... et ne... pas...' to make your writing more concise and elegant.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'NI' as 'NOT INCLUDED'. When you use it twice, you have two things that are 'NOT INCLUDED' in your choice.

Visual Association

Imagine two doors with big red 'X' marks on them. On the first door is written 'NI' and on the second door is written 'NI'. You are standing in the middle, rejecting both.

Word Web

ne pas jamais rien personne aucun soit ou

Challenge

Try to write a sentence about your three least favorite foods using 'ne... ni... ni... ni...'. Make sure to drop the articles for 'un/des' but keep 'le/la'!

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin 'nec', which also meant 'neither/nor'. In Old French, it appeared as 'ne' before evolving into 'ni' to distinguish it from the negative particle 'ne'.

Original meaning: Not and not; and not.

Romance (Latin root 'nec')

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities; it is a standard grammatical conjunction.

English speakers often struggle with dropping the articles in 'ni... ni...', as we almost always keep them in 'neither a... nor a...'.

The song 'Non, je ne regrette rien' by Edith Piaf (though it uses 'ni' in the lyrics). The political 'Ni-Ni' doctrine of the 1980s and 2010s. The anarchist slogan 'Ni Dieu ni Maître'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Ordering food

Sans oignons ni ail.
Je ne mange ni viande ni poisson.
Ni sucre ni lait.
Je ne veux ni entrée ni dessert.

Describing someone

Ni grand ni petit.
Ni jeune ni vieux.
Il n'est ni gentil ni méchant.
Elle n'est ni blonde ni brune.

Politics/Opinions

Ni pour ni contre.
Je ne soutiens ni l'un ni l'autre.
Ni droite ni gauche.
Ce n'est ni vrai ni faux.

Weather

Ni pluie ni soleil.
Ni chaud ni froid.
Ni vent ni neige.
Un temps ni beau ni mauvais.

Problem Solving

Ni queue ni tête.
Ni fait ni à faire.
Sans rime ni raison.
Ni plus ni moins.

Conversation Starters

"Est-ce que tu préfères le thé ou le café, ou ni l'un ni l'autre ?"

"Y a-t-il des aliments que tu ne manges ni pour le goût ni pour la texture ?"

"Penses-tu qu'un film peut être ni bon ni mauvais ?"

"As-tu déjà fait quelque chose de fou ni vu ni connu ?"

"Est-ce que tu te considères ni optimiste ni pessimiste, mais réaliste ?"

Journal Prompts

Décris une situation où tu as dû choisir entre deux options et tu as finalement choisi ni l'une ni l'autre.

Quels sont les deux traits de caractère que tu ne voudrais avoir ni pour toi-même ni pour tes amis ?

Écris sur un voyage qui n'était ni reposant ni stressant.

Réflexion : 'Ni Dieu ni Maître'. Que penses-tu de cette devise dans le monde moderne ?

Fais une liste de choses dont tu ne pourrais te passer ni un jour ni une semaine.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No. You must never use 'pas' with 'ni... ni...'. The correct way is 'Je ne veux ni thé ni café'. Adding 'pas' creates a double negative that is grammatically incorrect in French.

No, definite articles like 'le', 'la', and 'les' are kept. For example: 'Je n'aime ni le rouge ni le bleu'. You only drop indefinite articles (un, une, des) and partitive articles (du, de la).

You can simply add more 'ni' particles. For example: 'Je ne mange ni viande, ni poisson, ni œufs'. It is very flexible for long lists.

In almost all cases, the verb is plural. 'Ni Paul ni Marie ne sont là'. This is because both individuals are excluded from being there.

Yes! When you use 'sans', you don't need 'ne'. Example: 'Un café sans sucre ni lait'. This is a very common and elegant structure.

Yes, especially in formal or literary French. 'Ni la pluie ni le vent ne m'arrêteront'. In this case, 'ne' still appears before the verb.

It is used in all registers, from slang idioms to high literature. It is the standard way to say 'neither... nor...'.

'Ni... ni...' links two things inside one sentence. 'Non plus' is used for 'neither' in a short response (Moi non plus) or to add a second negative sentence.

Yes. 'Je ne sais ni nager ni danser'. The 'ne' stays with the main verb, and 'ni' goes before each infinitive.

No, 'ni' is an invariable conjunction. It never changes its spelling.