Etymology

A contracted form of Old High German niowiht, from nio ‎(“never”) + wiht ‎(“being, creature”), derived from Proto-Germanic *ne ‎(“not”) + Proto-Germanic *aiw- ‎(“ever”) + Proto-Germanic *wiht- ‎(“thing”). Compare German nicht. Akin to Dutch niet, West Frisian net, English not where similar developments took place.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [nɪʃt]