German word

keinerlei

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkaɪ̯nɐˌlaɪ̯/

Meaning

  • adjectiveno

Example

Er hat keinerlei Interesse.

He has no interest whatsoever.

Illustration for keinerlei (no)

More examples

Sie zeigte keinerlei Reue.

She showed no remorse whatsoever.

Core concept

An empty space remains when every possible kind of thing is ruled out.

Common phrases

  • keinerlei Interesse

    no interest whatsoever

  • keinerlei Ahnung

    no idea whatsoever

  • keinerlei Zweifel

    no doubt whatsoever

Similar words

überhaupt kein: A forceful conversational expression denying any existence at all.
gar kein: A colloquial intensifier stressing that there is not even one.
absolut kein: Emphasizes that the amount or number is completely zero.
nicht vorhanden: Indicates that an object, resource, or piece of information is absent.

Definition in German

intensives Negationswort, das vor einem Nomen steht und bedeutet, dass etwas in keiner Form existiert

Word origin

Keinerlei developed from kein plus -erlei, whose meaning 'kind or sort' is also visible in compounds such as allerlei and mancherlei.

Usage tips

  • Keinerlei has a relatively formal written register, while gar kein and überhaupt kein are common alternatives in conversation.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word