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ничего

pronoun, genitive singular neuter of ничто; used as adverb

1. nothing
2. it doesn't matter; never mind (colloquial)
3. something; anything (colloquial, in certain contexts)

Built from

• не- — prefix · not
  Negation prefix indicating absence or denial.
• что — root · what
  Interrogative and relative pronoun root meaning 'what' or 'which thing'.
• -го — ending · genitive singular neuter
  Genitive case ending used in negated and adverbial contexts; here functioning as the oblique form of ничто.

Analysis. не- (negation prefix) + -что (what) → "not what" = nothing. The genitive form is used in negative constructions and adverbial contexts.

Dictionary entry by Claude.

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