Leider nicht
Example: Ich kann leider nicht zum Geburtstag kommen.
Definition
"Leider nicht" is a German expression used to politely indicate the inability or refusal to do something, often conveying regret. It translates to 'unfortunately not' and is commonly used to soften negative responses, as in 'Ich kann leider nicht zum Geburtstag kommen' (I unfortunately cannot come to the birthday).
Translations
-
unfortunately not -
lamentablemente no -
helaas niet -
malauradament no -
malheureusement non
Etymology
The phrase "leider nicht" combines 'leider,' meaning 'unfortunately,' and 'nicht,' meaning 'not.' 'Leider' comes from the German root 'leid,' meaning 'sorrow' or 'pain,' which traces back to Old High German. The phrase has developed as a polite way to express regret or inability, making it a common part of everyday German speech.
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"Leider nicht" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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