Nie vs. niemals
The German words nie and niemals both translate to never in English. The main difference between them lies in their intensity and emphasis, with niemals being the stronger and more emotional of the two.
Nie
A1Nie is the standard, everyday German word for never. It is used in a neutral, factual way to state that something has not happened or will not happen, without adding extra emotional weight.
Ich trinke nie Kaffee nach 18 Uhr.
(I never drink coffee after 6 PM.)
Er war noch nie in Italien.
(He has never been to Italy.)
Sie vergisst nie meinen Geburtstag.
(She never forgets my birthday.)
Warum kommst du nie pünktlich?
(Why do you never arrive on time?)
So etwas habe ich noch nie gesehen.
(I have never seen anything like that before.)
Niemals
B1Niemals is a much stronger, more emphatic version of never. It translates more accurately to never ever or under no circumstances. It is used to express strong refusal, a firm resolution, or a very dramatic denial.
Ich würde dich niemals verraten!
(I would never ever betray you!)
Das werde ich dir niemals verzeihen.
(I will never forgive you for that.)
Niemals hätte ich gedacht, dass er so etwas tun würde.
(Never would I have thought that he would do something like that.)
Er hat versprochen, niemals wieder zu lügen.
(He promised to never lie again.)
Du darfst diese Tür niemals öffnen.
(You must never, under any circumstances, open this door.)
Summary
In short, use nie for everyday, neutral situations meaning never. Use niemals when you want to add strong emphasis, emotion, or a sense of finality, similar to saying never ever or under no circumstances in English. While they can sometimes be used interchangeably, choosing niemals always adds a dramatic and more intense tone.