Have you ever agreed with someone who said something negative, but then wondered whether to reply with “me either” or “me neither”? Both expressions are common in everyday English, so it’s understandable to be unsure which one sounds right. The correct choice depends on the sentence, the level of formality, and how you want to express agreement.
Both “me either” and “me neither” are used to agree with negative statements. “Me neither” is generally the more standard choice in careful English, while “me either” is common in informal conversation, particularly in American English. For example, if someone says, “I don’t like coffee,” you can reply, “Me neither” or, in casual conversation, “Me either.”
In this article, I’ll explain the meaning of each expression, when to use it, how it differs from “me too,” and how to choose the most natural response in different situations.
Me Either or Me Neither: Which Is Correct?
Both expressions are used in everyday English, but “me neither” is generally the safer choice in standard English when you agree with a negative statement.
Here’s a quick comparison:
| Expression | Meaning | Typical usage |
| Me neither | I don’t either; neither do I | Standard English and everyday conversation |
| Me either | I don’t either; I haven’t either | Informal conversation, especially in American English |
| Me too | I do too; I have too | Agreement with an affirmative statement |
Examples:
- Person A: “I don’t like horror movies.”
- Person B: “Me neither.”
Another natural exchange is:
- Person A: “I can’t swim.”
- Person B: “Me either.”
The second response is common in casual speech, but “Me neither” is usually preferred in formal writing and careful English.
If you’re taking an English test, writing an academic paper, or unsure which expression to choose, use “me neither” for agreement with a negative statement.
What Does Me Either Mean?
“Me either” is an informal expression used to agree with someone who has made a negative statement. It communicates that the same situation or feeling applies to you.
For example:
- “I don’t want to go out tonight.”
- “Me either.”
The response means that you don’t want to go out either.
You might hear this expression when friends discuss their preferences, plans, feelings, or experiences. It is particularly familiar in casual American English.
Although many native speakers use “me either” naturally in conversation, some teachers and editors prefer “me neither” because it follows the more conventional pattern for agreeing with a negative statement.
Examples of Me Either in a Sentence
- I don’t like spicy food. — Me either.
- I can’t find my keys. — Me either.
- I haven’t watched that movie. — Me either.
- I don’t feel like cooking tonight. — Me either.
- I can’t wait for the weekend. — Me either.
- I don’t understand this question. — Me either.
- I haven’t visited London. — Me either.
- I don’t enjoy waking up early. — Me either.
These examples reflect informal conversational usage. In more formal English, you can replace each response with “Me neither” or a complete sentence such as “I don’t either.”
What Does Me Neither Mean?
“Me neither” is a common expression used to agree with a negative statement. It means that the speaker shares the other person’s negative feeling, experience, preference, or situation.
For example:
- Person A: “I don’t like cold weather.”
- Person B: “Me neither.”
Person B is saying that they also dislike cold weather.
The word “neither” is associated with negative agreement. In a complete sentence, the same idea can be expressed with “neither do I,” “neither can I,” or “neither have I,” depending on the original statement.
Examples of Me Neither in a Sentence
- I don’t like getting up early. — Me neither.
- I haven’t finished my homework. — Me neither.
- I can’t remember his name. — Me neither.
- I don’t eat seafood. — Me neither.
- I haven’t seen that show. — Me neither.
- I’m not ready to leave. — Me neither.
- I don’t understand the instructions. — Me neither.
- I can’t stay late tonight. — Me neither.
- I haven’t been to Australia. — Me neither.
- I don’t want any dessert. — Me neither.
These short responses are natural in conversation. If you want to sound more formal or make the grammar explicit, use a complete response that matches the original sentence.
When Should You Use Me Either or Me Neither?
The easiest way to decide is to consider the kind of conversation you’re having.
Use “me neither” when you want a widely accepted response to a negative statement. Use “me either” when you’re speaking casually with people who commonly use that expression.
| Situation | Recommended response | Example |
| Everyday conversation | Me neither | “I don’t like crowds.” — “Me neither.” |
| Formal or careful English | Neither do I | “I don’t agree.” — “Neither do I.” |
| Informal American conversation | Me either or me neither | “I can’t sleep.” — “Me either.” |
| English exams or academic writing | Neither do I | “I haven’t finished.” — “Neither have I.” |
| Agreeing with a positive statement | Me too | “I love music.” — “Me too.” |
Remember that “me either” and “me neither” are conversational responses. In formal writing, a complete sentence is often a better choice.
Me Either or Me Neither When Agreeing With Someone
Both expressions can communicate agreement, but the original statement must be negative.
Here are some common situations.
1. When someone dislikes something
- Person A: “I don’t like this song.”
- Person B: “Me neither.”
2. When someone cannot do something
- Person A: “I can’t drive.”
- Person B: “Me neither.”
3. When someone has not experienced something
- Person A: “I haven’t tried sushi.”
- Person B: “Me neither.”
4. When someone does not want to do something
- Person A: “I don’t want to go shopping.”
- Person B: “Me neither.”
5. When someone expresses a negative feeling
- Person A: “I’m not feeling well.”
- Person B: “Me neither.”
In the last example, “Me neither” is understandable as an informal response. “I’m not feeling well either” is another clear option.
The key is to match the negative meaning rather than simply copying the original sentence.
Me Either or Me Too: What’s the Difference?
“Me too” and “me either” are not interchangeable in every situation. The main difference is whether you’re agreeing with a positive statement or a negative one.
| Expression | When to use it | Example |
| Me too | Agreeing with a positive statement | “I love reading.” — “Me too.” |
| Me neither | Agreeing with a negative statement | “I don’t like reading.” — “Me neither.” |
| Me either | Informally agreeing with a negative statement | “I don’t like reading.” — “Me either.” |
For example:
- Positive: “I’m excited about the trip.” — “Me too.”
- Negative: “I’m not excited about the trip.” — “Me neither.”
- Informal negative: “I’m not excited about the trip.” — “Me either.”
A common mistake is using “me too” to agree with a negative statement when you actually mean that you share the negative feeling.
If someone says, “I don’t like rainy days,” replying “Me too” may sound confusing because it normally suggests agreement with a positive statement. “Me neither” is clearer.
How to Respond to “I Can’t Wait”: Me Either or Me Neither?
The best response depends on what the other person means.
If someone says, “I can’t wait for the concert,” they are expressing excitement. You can reply:
- “Me too!”
- “I can’t wait either!”
- “Same here!”
Here, “me too” is appropriate because you’re agreeing with the positive feeling of excitement, even though the phrase “can’t wait” contains the word “can’t.”
If someone says, “I can’t wait any longer,” and means they are unable to continue waiting, “Me neither” can express the same feeling.
For example:
- Person A: “I can’t wait any longer.”
- Person B: “Me neither.”
The distinction is based on the meaning of the statement, not simply the presence of a negative-looking word.
Is Me Either Grammatically Correct?
“Me either” is widely used in informal speech, but it is less universally accepted in formal or edited English than “me neither.”
There are two useful ways to express negative agreement:
- Short response: “Me neither.”
- Complete response: “I don’t either.”
You can also use “neither” with the appropriate auxiliary verb:
- “I don’t like coffee.” — “Neither do I.”
- “I can’t swim.” — “Neither can I.”
- “I haven’t been there.” — “Neither have I.”
- “I’m not ready.” — “Neither am I.”
Notice that the auxiliary verb changes to match the original statement.
“Me neither” is an established conversational response. Although “me” is an object pronoun rather than a subject pronoun, short conversational expressions do not always follow the structure of a complete formal sentence.
In formal writing, avoid relying on “me either” if you want to use the most widely accepted form.
Is Me Either or Me Neither More Common in British English?
Both expressions may be understood in British English, but “me neither” is the more conventional choice for negative agreement in standard British English.
“Me either” is particularly associated with informal American speech, although usage varies from person to person and region to region.
If you’re writing for a British audience, preparing for an English examination, or following a formal style guide, “me neither” or a complete response such as “Neither do I” is a dependable choice.
Oxford-style formal usage generally favors conventional negative agreement structures. However, it is better not to treat every informal expression as an outright grammatical error simply because it is less suitable for formal writing.
Common Mistakes With Me Either or Me Neither
Here are a few mistakes to watch for when agreeing with someone.
Mistake 1: Using me too for negative agreement
Incorrect or potentially confusing:
– “I don’t like onions.” — “Me too.”
Better:
- “I don’t like onions.” — “Me neither.”
- “I don’t like onions.” — “I don’t either.”
Mistake 2: Using neither do I with the wrong auxiliary verb
Incorrect:
– “I can’t swim.” — “Neither do I.”
Correct:
– “I can’t swim.” — “Neither can I.”
The auxiliary “can” must match the original statement.
Mistake 3: Assuming me either is never used
It is common in informal conversation, especially in American English. It is not the safest choice for formal writing, but calling it universally nonexistent would misrepresent actual usage.
Mistake 4: Choosing a response based only on the word not
Consider “I can’t wait for the holiday.” This normally expresses excitement, so “Me too!” is natural. You should understand the meaning of the whole sentence before choosing your response.
Mistake 5: Using a short response when a formal sentence is needed
In academic or professional writing, a full response may be clearer.
Informal:
– “I haven’t received the email.” — “Me neither.”
More formal:
- “I haven’t received the email either.”
- “Neither have I.”
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Should I say me either or me neither?
“Me neither” is generally the safer choice in standard English when agreeing with a negative statement. “Me either” is common in informal conversation, particularly in American English.
2. Is me either correct English?
“Me either” is a widely used informal expression. However, “me neither” is more conventional in standard negative agreement, especially in careful or formal English.
3. What is the meaning of me either?
“Me either” means that the same negative situation applies to you. For example, “I don’t like coffee” — “Me either” means that you don’t like coffee either.
4. Can I use me neither in a formal conversation?
Yes, “me neither” is widely understood and natural in conversation. In particularly formal situations, “Neither do I” or another complete response may be more appropriate.
5. Is me neither grammatically correct?
Yes. “Me neither” is an established short response used to agree with a negative statement. It is common in everyday English.
6. Is me either or me neither used in British English?
“Me neither” is the more conventional choice in standard British English. “Me either” is also understood, but it is more strongly associated with informal American speech.
7. Can I say me either after I can’t wait?
Yes, if the other person means they cannot wait any longer. However, “I can’t wait for the weekend” usually expresses excitement, so “Me too” is the more natural agreement.
8. Can I use me either or me neither after I haven’t?
Yes. For example, “I haven’t seen that movie” — “Me neither” is a natural informal response. You can also say “I haven’t either” or “Neither have I.”
9. Is me either the same as me too?
No. “Me too” normally agrees with a positive statement, while “me either” is used informally to agree with a negative statement. For negative agreement, “me neither” is generally the more conventional choice.
10. What is the most grammatically precise alternative to me either?
Use a complete response that matches the original sentence. For example, say “Neither do I” after “I don’t like it,” “Neither can I” after “I can’t do it,” or “Neither have I” after “I haven’t done it.”
Conclusion
Both “me either” and “me neither” are used to agree with negative statements, but they differ in how widely they are accepted in standard English. “Me neither” is generally the better choice for everyday standard usage, formal conversations, and English-learning situations. “Me either” is common in informal speech, especially in American English.
Remember the simple rule: use “me too” to agree with a positive statement, and use “me neither” to agree with a negative statement. When you need a more formal response, choose a complete structure such as “Neither do I” or “I don’t either.”
I am Sophia Williams, an English writing expert who loves helping people discover the power of correct grammar and effective communication. I specialize in explaining grammar concepts, word differences, sentence improvement techniques, and everyday English usage in a friendly and practical way. I believe learning grammar should be interesting, accessible, and useful for real-life conversations and professional writing.
I have written educational books including “Perfect Your English: Grammar Tips for Better Writing” and “The Modern English Grammar Companion.” My work focuses on helping readers develop strong language skills and become more confident English users.