naw

Etymology

In Scottish use, from Scots naw, naa, na, from Middle English na, from Old English nā (“no, never”). More generally, a colloquial, unarticulated form of no; compare nah. More at no.

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: nô, IPA^(key): /nɔː/
• (US) enPR: nô, IPA^(key): /nɔ/
• (cot–caught merger) enPR: nä, IPA^(key): /nɑ/
• Rhymes: -ɔː, -ɑː
• Homophones: nor, gnaw

Interjection

naw

1. (informal) No.
   • 2003, Anton F. Bilek, Tony Bilek, Gene O'Connell, No Uncle Sam: The Forgotten of Bataan, Kent State University Press, →ISBN, page 31:

     "Naw, no trouble. Just pulled off the road for about ten minutes, maybe, when a couple of Nip fighters banked overhead. They were after something or other." "Is that right?" Mac replied.

   • 2012, Alex Gray, A Pound of Flesh:

     'Naw, hen, sorry. Ye're too young for us. Come back when you've got a couple mair years under yer belt, eh?'

   • 2012 November 1, Brenda Hampton, Naughty No More, Urban Books, →ISBN:

     “Naw, no thanks. I'll catch you next time.” “Come on, Shane. All you do is work, work, and work. You need to have a little fun, don't you?” “Right now, I'm having a lot of fun. Trust me.” “Do you have company?” “No, I'm painting.”

2. (Jamaica) Pronunciation spelling of not.

See also

• nee-naw

Anagrams

• NWA, WAN, Wan, awn, wan, wan-

Etymology

From Proto-Brythonic *naw, from Proto-Celtic *nawan, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁néwn̥.

Numeral

naw

1. nine

Etymology

Probably from English naw or Scots naw.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnɑː/, /ˈnɔː/
• Hyphenation: naw

Adverb

naw

1. not

   No one naw cuss. No shot naw buss.

   There isn't any fighting. There aren't any shots being fired.

   (literally, “No one not fight. No bullet not fire.”)

   Nutten naw gwaan, Rayman.

   There aren't any opportunities, Raymond.

   (literally, “Nothing not going on, Raymond”)

   • 1990, Frances Gray, Women at the Albany Empire (in Jamaican Creole), →ISBN, page 62:

     “WINSTON: If she tink me ah guh sign any paper and guh to any backside Court she bettah tink again
     PARKIE: Suh you
     naw guh see your wife and sort dis ting out? […] ”

     WINSTON: If she thinks I'm going to sign any papers and go to some damned courthouse, she has another thing coming.
     PARKIE: Well, aren't you and your wife going to work this thing out? […]

Particle

naw

1. no

   A: A you tief mi sweetie. B: Naw, a nuh me dweet.

   A: You stole my candy. B: No, I didn't do it.

   • 2012, Jason Stephenson, “Short Story - Stop And Stare”, in The Jamaica Gleaner‎ (in English):

     “"Naw, mi nuh know her ... Why?" […] ”

     No, I don't know her ... Why? […]

Noun

naw

1. friend

Noun

naw

1. child

References

• Chungkham Yashwanta Singh (2002) Tarao Grammar (in Tarao)

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

naw

1. sea
2. salt
3. wave

Further reading

Catriona Malau (2011-05-05) Dictionary of Vurës

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Iranian *Hnáwa, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *Hnáwa, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁néwn̥. Cognate with Yagnobi нав (nav).

Numeral

naw

1. nine

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /naːu̯/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /nau̯/
• Rhymes: -au̯

Etymology 1

From Proto-Brythonic *naw, from Proto-Celtic *nowan, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁néwn̥.

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Mutation

References

• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “naw”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies

Noun

naw

1. knife

References

• Jeremy Hammond, The Grammar of Nouns and Verbs in Whitesands, an Oceanic Language of Southern Vanuatu (2009), p. 75