Afrikaans edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From nergens, from Dutch nergens, from Middle Dutch nergens, nergen, from Old Dutch niergin.

Pronunciation edit

  • (file)

Adverb edit

nêrens

  1. nowhere
    Ons gaan nêrens heen nie.
    We are going nowhere. / We aren't going anywhere.
  2. anywhere
    Ek wil nêrens heen gaan nie!
    I don't want to go anywhere!

Antonyms edit

Related terms edit

Noun edit

nêrens (uncountable)

  1. nowhere (sometimes used with niks, which means nothing.)
    Die dorpie is in die middle van niks en nêrens.
    The [small] town is in the middle of nowhere.
  2. anywhere
    Jy bly nogal ver van nêrens.
    You live rather far from anywhere.

Usage notes edit

Usage of this word, either as a noun or adverb, follows the standard Afrikaans rules for negation, i.e. it is double negated and thus should always be accompanied by nie. In speech the nie is sometimes omitted.