nichts

Nichts is a German word meaning nothing. It functions primarily as a pronoun that refers to the absence of anything. In normal use it appears in sentences such as "Ich habe nichts" (I have nothing) or "Es gibt nichts zu tun" (There is nothing to do). It can also serve as a determiner in phrases like "nichts Besonderes" (nothing special) and is common in fixed expressions such as "nichts zu sagen" (nothing to say) and "nichts mehr" (nothing more). The expression "nichts zu danken" (you’re welcome) is a set phrase in response to thanks.

In its noun form, written "das Nichts," the term names the concept of nothingness rather than the absence of anything, and appears in philosophical or poetic contexts.

Etymology and forms: The word derives from the negation particle "nicht" with a nominalizing suffix to form a pronoun meaning "not a thing." It traces back to Old High German nihts, and related Germanic forms for negation. The standard spelling is "nichts," with capitalization only for the noun sense "das Nichts."

Philosophical usage: In German philosophy, "das Nichts" is used to discuss the notion of nothingness, especially in existential and phenomenological traditions. Heidegger’s discussions of nothingness and the ontological significance of das Nichts are among the notable uses in the 20th century.