N'ai (en. Don't have)

/nɛ/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

verb

Indicates the absence of possession or existence.

I don't have time today.

Je n'ai pas de temps aujourd'hui.

Used to express the lack of something.

I have never seen this place.

Je n'ai jamais vu cet endroit.

Negative form of the verb to have in the first person singular.

I didn't understand the question.

Je n'ai pas compris la question.

Constructed from Old French, a mix of 'ne' (negation) and 'ai' (first person singular of the verb to have).

haven't got anything

Indicates that there is absolutely nothing.

n'ai rien

I don't have time

Expresses that one does not have time to devote to something.

je n'ai pas le temps

I have no idea

Expresses the absence of knowledge or information on a subject.

n'ai aucune idée

to have

Verb that means to possess or to be in a certain state.

avoir

negation

Action of making something negative or expressing absence.

négation

to possess

To have something in one's property.

posséder

Colloquial usage to express an absence.

I'm exhausted, I don't have any strength left.

J'suis crevé, j'n'ai plus de force.

Striking way to say that one does not want something.

Do you want this? No, I don't feel like it.

Tu veux ça ? Non, j'n'ai pas envie.