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nu

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See also: Appendix:Variations of "nu"
Languages (81)
English
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English

Ancient Greek alphabet
←
mu
 →
xi
Ν ν
Ancient Greek: νῦ
Wikipedia article on nu

Etymology 1

From Ancient Greek νῦ (nû), name for the letter of the Greek alphabet Ν (N) and ν (n).

Pronunciation

Noun

nu (countable and uncountable, plural nus)

  1. The letter of the Greek alphabet Ν (N) and ν (n).
  2. A measure of constringence in lenses or prisms.
Derived terms
Translations
See also

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Yiddish נו (nu). Doublet of now.

Pronunciation

Interjection

nu

  1. (Jewish) An exclamation of surprise, emphasis, doubt, etc.
  2. (Jewish) Well? (Used as a question to demand an answer from someone reluctant to answer.)
Translations

Etymology 3

Phonetic respelling of new.

Adjective

nu (comparative more nu, superlative most nu)

  1. (slang spelling) new
Usage notes

Derived terms coined between the 1980s and 2000s are largely neutral in usage. Usages coined after the 2010s will often carry derogatory or sarcastic connotations, as seen with examples such as NuTrek, nu-Labour and nu-male. Contrast this with the neo- prefix, which lacks the same connotation.

Derived terms

See also

etymologically unrelated terms containing the word "nu"

Anagrams

Ainu

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

Verb

nu (Kana spelling ヌ)

  1. (transitive) to hear
  2. (transitive) to sense (a smell)
  3. (possibly obsolete, transitive, + otta) to ask, enquire

Conjugation

Conjugation of nu (transitive, 2-slot)
case objective
person 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
number singular plural singular plural singular plural singular plural
subjective 1st singular eci=nu eci=nu k(u)=nu k(u)=nu ku=i=nu ku=i=nu
plural eci=nu eci=nu c(i)=nu c(i)=nu a=i=nu a=i=nu
2nd singular en=nu un=nu e=nu e=nu e=i=nu e=i=nu
plural eci=en=nu eci=un=nu eci=nu eci=nu eci=i=nu eci=i=nu
3rd singular en=nu un=nu e=nu eci=nu nu nu i=nu i=nu
plural en=nu un=nu e=nu eci=nu nu nu i=nu i=nu
4th singular a=en=nu a=un=nu a=e=nu a=eci=nu a=nu a=nu a=i=nu a=i=nu
plural a=en=nu a=un=nu a=e=nu a=eci=nu a=nu a=nu a=i=nu a=i=nu

†1st-person plurals are exclusive. Inclusive 1st-person plurals are denoted by 4th-person.
†4th-person: indefinite person, 1st-person inclusive plural, logophorical person, 2nd-person honorific, etc.
See Ainu grammar.

Derived terms

  • inu (“to listen”)

Äiwoo

Verb

nu

  1. to drink

References

  • Næss, Åshild (2017), “nu”, in A short dictionary of Äiwoo (Studies in the Languages of Island Melanesia; A-PL 35)‎[5], Canberra, ACT: Asia-Pacific Linguistics, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University, page 78
  • Ross, Malcolm; Næss, Åshild (December 2007), “An Oceanic origin for Äiwoo, the language of the Reef Islands?”, in Oceanic Linguistics‎[6], volume 46, number 2, Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press, →DOI, pages 456–98

Ajië

Etymology

From Proto-Oceanic *niuʀ, Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *niuʀ.

Noun

nu

  1. coconut

Albanian

Etymology

From Proto-Albanian *nu, from Proto-Indo-European *nu (“now”). Related to ni. Compare Ancient Greek νῦν (nûn), Old High German nu (“now”).[1]

Adverb

nu

  1. when

References

  1. ^ Orel, Vladimir (1998), “nu”, in Albanian Etymological Dictionary, Leiden; Boston; Cologne: Brill, →ISBN, page 301

Alemannic German

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Middle High German nūn, from Middle High German niuwan, variant of niuwar, from Old High German niwāri. Cognate with German nur.

Alternative forms

Adverb

nu

  1. only

Etymology 2

From Middle High German nu, from Old High German nu. Cognate with German nun.

Alternative forms

Adverb

nu

  1. now
    Synonym: jetz

Etymology 3

Historical or dialectal variants.

Adverb

nu

  1. alternative form of no

Ama

Pronunciation

Noun

nu

  1. house

Arára (Pará)

Alternative forms

forms used in “pet talk”, when talking to a specific animal[1]

Noun

nu

  1. tumour; abscess

References

  • 2010, Isaac Costa de Souza, A Phonological Description of “Pet Talk” in Arara (MA), SIL Brazil, page 42.

Aromanian

Etymology

From Latin nōn. Compare Romanian nu.

Adverb

nu

  1. no
  2. not

Interjection

nu

  1. no

Antonyms

Au

Noun

nu

  1. tree

References

  • Scorza, David. Au language word, phrase, clause. Ms. 82pp. (1976)

Blagar

Pronunciation

Numeral

nu

  1. one

References

  • W. A. L. Stokhof, Preliminary notes on the Alor and Pantar languages (East Indonesia) (1975)
  • Internet Archive, The Rosetta Project, Blagar Swadesh List

Catalan

Etymology

Inherited from Latin nūdus, from Proto-Indo-European *nogʷós.

Pronunciation

Adjective

nu (feminine nua, masculine plural nus, feminine plural nues)

  1. nude, naked
  2. (of things, such as trees, mountains, houses, etc.) barren, bare

Derived terms

Czech

Pronunciation

Interjection

nu

  1. (dated) expresses prompting
    Nu pojď! ― Come on!
  2. (dated) expresses agreement and participation in a conversation
    Synonyms: tak, no, nó
  3. (dated) expresses consolation (esp. to a child)

Further reading

Dalmatian

Dalmatian cardinal numbers
 <  8 9 10  > 
    Cardinal : nu

Etymology 1

From Latin novem.

Numeral

nu

  1. nine

Etymology 2

From Latin nōs.

Pronoun

nu

  1. (second-person plural pronoun) we

See also

Dalmatian personal pronouns
number person nominative oblique
singular
1st ju me / main
2nd te toi
3rd m jal joi
f jala joe
plural
1st nu noi
2nd vu voi
3rd m jali jai
f jale

Danish

Etymology

From Old Norse nú (“now”), from Proto-Germanic *nu (“now”), from Proto-Indo-European *nu (“now”). Cognate with English now.

Pronunciation

Noun

nu n (singular definite nuet, not used in plural form)

  1. now (present time), present (current time)
  2. moment
  3. instant

Adverb

nu

  1. now

Synonyms

Conjunction

nu

  1. now

Dutch

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch nu, from Old Dutch nū, from Proto-Germanic *nu.

Adverb

nu

  1. now, at the present moment
    Kom je nu of morgen?
    Will you be coming now or tomorrow?
  2. now, this time (indicating a certain amount of impatience)
    Wat is er nu weer dan?
    What is it now?
Synonyms
Descendants
  • Negerhollands: nue, nu, noe, nou
  • Skepi Creole Dutch: nou

Conjunction

nu

  1. now (that)
    Nu je het zegt, weet ik het weer.
    Now you're saying it, I do remember it.

Noun

nu n (uncountable, no diminutive)

  1. the present
    Synonym: heden
    Het is soms moeilijk om mentaal in het nu te zijn. ― It is sometimes difficult to be mentally in the present.

Etymology 2

From Ancient Greek νῦ (nû). Doublet of noen.

Noun

nu m (plural nu's, diminutive nuutje n)

  1. n (letter of the Greek alphabet)

Further reading

East Central German

Etymology

From Sorbian or Czech. Cf. no.

Pronunciation

Adverb

nu

  1. (Upper Saxon) yes

Elfdalian

Etymology

From Old Swedish nū, Old Norse nú, from Proto-Germanic *nu. Cognate with Swedish nu.

Adverb

nu

  1. now, at this time

Esperanto

Etymology

Borrowed from German and Dutch nu, Czech and Polish no, Swedish nå, Russian and Ukrainian ну (nu).[1][2]

Pronunciation

Interjection

nu

  1. well (filled pause, particularly at the beginning of a response to a question)
    Nu, li diris, ke li ne volas ĉeesti la feston.
    Well, he said he doesn't want to go to the party.
    • 2025 September 29, Jorge Nogueras, “La plej mallonga tago”, in uea.facila‎[7], archived from the original on 12 December 2025:
      Nu, plej verŝajne sciencistoj ĉikanus vin, kaj klarigus al vi, ke fakte tagoj daŭras foje iomete pli, foje iomete malpli.
      Well, most likely scientists would argue with you frivolously, and explain to you, that days in fact last sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less.

References

  1. ^ Cherpillod, André (2003), “nu”, in Konciza Etimologia Vortaro [Concise Etymological Dictionary] (in Esperanto), Universala Esperanto-Asocio, →ISBN
  2. ^ Ebbe Vilborg, “nu”, in Etimologia Vortaro de Esperanto [Etymological Dictionary of Esperanto], volume 4, →ISBN, page 25

Further reading

Ewe

Etymology

Likely from Proto-Gbe *-ɖũ.[1] Cognates include Fon nu, Saxwe Gbe onu, Aja (West Africa) enù, Ayizo nuu and Gun ònù. Possibly related to Yoruba ẹnu, Igbo ọnụ and Igala álu.

Noun

nu

  1. mouth

References

  1. ^ Capo, Hounkpati B.C. (1991), A Comparative Phonology of Gbe (Publications in African Languages and Linguistics; 14), Berlin/New York; Garome, Benin: Foris Publications & Labo Gbe (Int), page 219

French

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Inherited from Middle French nu, from Old French nu, from Latin nūdus, from Proto-Indo-European *nogʷós.

Adjective

nu (feminine nue, masculine plural nus, feminine plural nues)

  1. naked; nude; bare
    à mains nues ― barehanded
    à poings nus ― barefisted
    à l'œil nu ― with the naked eye
    mettre à nu ― to lay bare
    nu comme un ver ― stark naked
    pieds nus ― barefoot
    cul nu ― bare-assed
    torse nu ― barechested
Descendants
  • ⇒ Guianese Creole: touni

Noun

nu m (plural nus)

  1. (art) nude
Descendants
  • → Russian: ню (nju)
  • → Ukrainian: ню (nju)
  • → Vietnamese: nuy

Etymology 2

From Ancient Greek νῦ (nû).

Noun

nu m (plural nu or nus)

  1. nu (Greek letter)

Further reading

Anagrams

Galician

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese nuu, from Latin nūdus, from Proto-Indo-European *nogʷós. Cognate with Portuguese nu.

Adjective

nu (feminine núa, masculine plural nus, feminine plural núas)

  1. naked, nude
  2. bare, barren

Gaulish

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *nu, from Proto-Indo-European *nu.

Pronunciation

Adverb

nu

  1. now

German

Etymology 1

    From Middle High German nu, nuo. The form without a final -n remained common in some dialects and was reinforced by German Low German nu, from Middle Low German nû.

    Pronunciation

    Adverb

    nu

    1. (colloquial or archaic) alternative form of nun
    Derived terms

    Interjection

    nu

    1. (colloquial or archaic) alternative form of nun

    Etymology 2

      From a Slavic dialect, probably Sorbian. Compare Czech ano (“yes”), Polish no (“yeah; well”), Russian ну (nu, “yeah; well”). In the sense of a filled pause touching on etymology 1 above.

      Pronunciation

      Interjection

      nu

      1. (colloquial, regional, Saxony) yes; yeah; expresses agreement or understanding
      2. (colloquial, regional, Saxony) well; fills pause

      Gothic

      Romanization

      nu

      1. romanization of 𐌽𐌿

      Hittite

      Romanization

      nu

      1. Broad transcription of 𒉡

      Iaai

      Etymology

      From Proto-Oceanic *niuR, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *niuR.

      Pronunciation

      Noun

      nu

      1. coconut palm

      Ingrian

      Etymology

      Borrowed from Russian ну (nu).

      Pronunciation

      Interjection

      nu

      1. synonym of no (“well”)

      References

      • Elena Markus (2024), “Syntax and functions of the Ingrian discourse particles no and nu”, in Eesti ja soome-ugri keeleteaduse ajakiri, volume 15, number 1, pages 155-186

      Italian

      Pronunciation

      • IPA(key): /ˈnu/
      • Rhymes: -u
      • Hyphenation: nù

      Noun

      nu m or f (invariable)

      1. the name of the letter N

      Anagrams

      Japanese

      Romanization

      nu

      1. The hiragana syllable ぬ (nu) or the katakana syllable ヌ (nu) in Hepburn romanization.

      Kabuverdianu

      Etymology

      Etymology tree
      Proto-Indo-European *wéy ~ *nō̆s
      Proto-Italic *nōs
      Latin nōs
      Old Galician-Portuguese nos
      Portuguese nósder.
      Kabuverdianu nu

        Derived from Portuguese nós.

        Pronoun

        nu

        1. we

        References

        • Gonçalves, Manuel (2015), Capeverdean Creole-English dictionary (overall work in English), Mili Mila, →ISBN

        Kamkata-viri

        Kamkata-viri cardinal numbers
         <  8 9 10  > 
            Cardinal : nu
        Kativiri cardinal numbers
         <  8 9 10  > 
            Cardinal : nu

        Etymology 1

        From Proto-Nuristani (or less likely borrowed from a descendant of Sanskrit नव (náva)), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *Hnáwa, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁néwn̥.

        Numeral

        nu (Western, Northeastern, Southeastern)[1]

        1. nine

        References

        1. ^ Strand, Richard F. (2016), “n′u”, in Nûristânî Etymological Lexicon‎[1]

        Etymology 2

        From Proto-Nuristani, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *náHuš (“boat”), from Proto-Indo-European *néh₂us.[1]

        Noun

        nu f (Western, Southeastern)[2]

        1. wooden aqueduct
        2. mill water conduit
        Alternative forms
        • nū (Northeastern)

        References

        1. ^ Halfmann, Jakob (2025). The Diversification of Indo-Iranian and the Position of the Nuristani Languages. Wiesbaden: Reichert.
        2. ^ Strand, Richard F. (2016), “n′u”, in Nûristânî Etymological Lexicon‎[2]

        Kosraean

        Etymology

        From Proto-Micronesian *niu, from Proto-Oceanic *niuʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *niuʀ. Compare Pohnpeian nih, Fijian niu, Tongan niu, Hawaiian niu.

        Pronunciation

        Noun

        nu

        1. coconut (fruit of coco palm)
          Hyponyms: kaki, wangwes, siluf, uf
          Meronyms: el, elel, fuh, inpuhl, pihsinyacluh, niyacngorngor, pusun nu, tahlok
          Comeronyms: sroacnu, kahp
          Kuht ac som fan nu lutu.
          We will go pick coconuts tomorrow.
          Nga molelah nu limekohsr.
          I bought five coconuts.

        Usage notes

        • As a drinkable food, nu takes the classifier nihmac (e.g., nu nihmuhk (“my coconut [to drink]”)).
        • The phrasal term nu wiwi refers specifically to a young coconut. Because it is chewed to extract the juice, it takes the chewable classifier niyac (e.g., nu wiwi niyuhk (“my young coconut [to chew]”)).

        Derived terms

        See also

        References

        • Lee, Kee-dong (1976), “nu”, in Donald M. Topping, editor, Kusaiean–English Dictionary‎[12], The University Press of Hawaii, →ISBN, archived from the original on 20 October 2022, page 218

        Kusunda

        Pronoun

        nu

        1. you (second-person singular pronoun)

        References

        David E. Watters (2006), “Notes on Kusunda Grammar: A Language Isolate of Nepal”, in Himalayan Linguistics‎[13], page 44

        Lashi

        Etymology

        From Proto-Lolo-Burmese [Term?], from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ŋwə. Cognates include Burmese နွား (nwa:).

        Pronunciation

        • (Waingmaw) IPA(key): [nu˧˧]
        • (Mongko) IPA(key): [no˧˧]
        • Hyphenation: nu

        Noun

        nu (classifier du꞉)

        1. cow, cattle
          • 2005, “Apoem ayang꞉ 21:27 [Genesis 21:27]”, in Jhoem꞉ mougsougˮ [The Book of the Bible]‎[14], page 30:
            Hau꞉ thang꞉ Abraham gi Abimeleg ri yang yoʼ nu dayhamˮ byid꞉ lho꞉ nya꞉ tang꞉ gi myid veingˮ khyoo꞉ koid bye꞉.
            After that Abraham gave Abimeleg some sheep and cattle and then the two of them made a truce.

        References

        • Qingxia Dai; Jie Li (2007), 勒期语研究 [The study of the Leqi language], Beijing: Central Institute for Nationalities Publishing House, →ISBN, page 282
        • Mark Wannemacher (2011), A phonological overview of the Lacid language‎[15], Chiang Mai: Payap University., page 34
        • Hkaw Luk (2017), A grammatical sketch of Lacid‎[16], Chiang Mai: Payap University (master thesis), page 34

        Latvian

        Particle

        nu

        1. well
          Nu labi! ― Very well!
        2. now
          Ko nu? ― What now?

        Interjection

        nu

        1. well
          Nu, kas notika? ― Well, what happened?

        Lower Tanana

        Etymology

        From Proto-Athabaskan *nuˑ.

        Pronunciation

        Noun

        nu

        1. river island, brush-covered island

        References

        • Kari, James et al. (2024), Kari, James, editor, Lower Tanana Dene Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 336

        Mandarin

        Romanization

        nu

        1. nonstandard spelling of nú
        2. nonstandard spelling of nǔ
        3. nonstandard spelling of nù
        4. nonstandard spelling of nǘ
        5. nonstandard spelling of nǚ
        6. nonstandard spelling of nǜ

        Usage notes

        • Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.

        Mauritian Creole

        Pronoun

        nu

        1. alternative spelling of nou

        See also

        Mauritian Creole personal pronouns
        singular plural
        1st person mo
        mwa (objective)         		nou
        2nd person to (informal), ou (formal)
        twa (objective)         		zot
        3rd person li zot, bann-la

        References

        • Baker, Philip; Hookoomsing, Vinesh Y. (1987), Diksiyoner kreol morisyeṅ [Mauritian Creole Dictionary] (in French and English), Paris: L'Harmattan, →ISBN, page 239

        Middle Dutch

        Etymology

        From Old Dutch nu, from Proto-Germanic *nu.

        Adverb

        nu

        1. now, currently
        2. today
        3. here
        4. just now

        Descendants

        Conjunction

        nu

        1. now that
        2. since, because

        Descendants

        • Dutch: nu
        • Limburgish: noe

        Further reading

        • “nu”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
        • Verwijs, E.; Verdam, J. (1885–1929), “nu (I)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN, page I

        Middle English

        Adverb

        nu

        1. alternative form of nou

        Middle French

        Etymology

        From Old French nu, from Latin nūdus.

        Adjective

        nu m (feminine singular nue, masculine plural nus, feminine plural nues)

        1. naked

        Descendants

        • French: nu

        References

        • nu on Dictionnaire du Moyen Français (1330–1500) (in French)

        Mizo

        Etymology

        From Proto-Kuki-Chin *nuu.

        Noun

        nu

        1. mother

        Derived terms

        Further reading

        Muong

        Etymology

        Cognate with Vietnamese nâu.

        Pronunciation

        Adjective

        nu

        1. (Mường Bi) brown

        Neapolitan

        Alternative forms

        Etymology

        From Latin ūnus.

        Pronunciation

        Article

        nu m sg

        1. a, an

        Norman

        Etymology

        From Old French nu, from Latin nūdus.

        Adjective

        nu m

        1. (Jersey) bare

        Norn

        Adverb

        nu

        1. now
          • c. 1675 (collected in 1774, published in 1805), Hildina
            Nu swara Hiluge […] Gipt mir nu fruan Hildina […]
            Now Hiluge answers […] Give me now [the] lady Hildina […]

        Northern Sami

        Etymology

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

        Pronunciation

        • (Kautokeino) IPA(key): /ˈnuː/

        Adverb

        nū

        1. so, thus, like that
        2. so, to that extent

        Further reading

        • Eino Koponen, Klaas Ruppel, Kirsti Aapala, editors (2002–2008), Álgu database: Etymological database of the Saami languages‎[17], Helsinki: Research Institute for the Languages of Finland

        Norwegian Bokmål

        Etymology 1

        Noun

        nu m (definite singular nuen, indefinite plural nuer, definite plural nuene)

        1. a trough

        Etymology 2

        From Old Norse nú.

        Adverb

        nu

        1. (archaic or dialectal) now; alternative form of nå

        Interjection

        nu

        1. alternative form of nå

        Noun

        nu n (definite singular nuet, uncountable)

        1. alternative form of nå

        References

        Norwegian Nynorsk

        Etymology 1

        Noun

        nu m (definite singular nuen, indefinite plural nuar, definite plural nuane)

        1. a trough

        Etymology 2

        From Old Norse nú.

        Adverb

        nu

        1. (dialectal) now; alternative form of no

        Interjection

        nu

        1. alternative form of no

        Noun

        nu n (definite singular nuet, uncountable)

        1. alternative form of no

        References

        Old Dutch

        Etymology

        From Proto-Germanic *nu.

        Adverb

        nū

        1. now
          • wat unbidan we nu?
            what are we waiting for now?

        Derived terms

        Descendants

        Further reading

        • “nū (I)”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012

        Old English

        Alternative forms

        Etymology

        From Proto-West Germanic *nū, from Proto-Germanic *nu.

        Pronunciation

        Adverb

        nū

        1. now
          • c. 989–992 CE, Ælfric of Eynsham, “On the Passion of the Apostles Peter and Paul” (XXVI), in Benjamin Thorpe, F.S.A., ed. and transl., The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church, volume I, London: Richard and John E. Taylor, published 1844, page 378:
            Nero cwæð, “Hwæt is nu, Simon? Ic wene wit sind oferswiðde.”
            Nero said, “What is it now, Simon? I think we've been defeated.”
        2. just (in the sense "recently")
        3. since
          • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Boethius' The Consolation of Philosophy
            Nū ðū þæt swā openlīce onġiten hæfst, ne þearfe ic nū nauht swīþe ymbe þ swincan þæt ic þē mā be gode recce.
            Since thou hast so clearly understood this, I need not now greatly labour in order that I may instruct thee further concerning good;...
          • c. 880–950 CE, Alfred the Great [attributed], edited and translated by Walter John Sedgefield, M.A. Melb., B.A. Cantab., King Alfred’s Version of the Consolations of Boethius, Oxford: Clarendon Press, published 1899, page 22:
            Þȳ iċ wundriġe hwȳ þū ne mæġe onġietan þæt þū eart nū ġīet swīðe ġesǣliġ, nū þū ġīet leofast and eart hāl.
            So I wonder why you can't understand that you're still very lucky, since you're still alive and healthy.
          • 996–997, Ælfric of Eynsham, “The Seven Sleepers”, in Rev. Walter W. Skeat, M.A., ed. and transl., Aelfric's Lives of Saints (Early English Text Society original series 82), volume I, London: N. Trübner & Co., published 1885, page 498:
            Nu ge þam mærum godum offrian nellað, ne beo ge me næfre heonon-forð swa wurðe ne swa leofe swa ge ær wæron...
            Since ye will not offer to the great gods, ye shall never henceforth be to me so worthy nor so dear as ye were before;...

        Derived terms

        Descendants

        Conjunction

        nū

        1. now that

        Old French

        Alternative forms

        Etymology

        From Latin nūdus.

        Adjective

        nu m (feminine nue)

        1. naked

        Adverb

        nu m (feminine nue)

        1. naked

        Descendants

        References

        Old Saxon

        Etymology

        From Proto-Germanic *nu.

        Adverb

        nū

        1. now
        2. since

        References

        Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Altsächsisches Wörterbuch‎[18] (in German), 5th edition

        Oromo

        Etymology

        Compare Somali innaga.

        Pronoun

        nu

        1. us

        See also

        Oromo personal pronouns
        direct object subject indirect object
        1st person singular ana ani anaa
        plural nu nuyi nuu
        2nd person singular si ati sii
        plural isin isin isinii
        3rd person singular m isa inni isaa
        f ishee isheen ishee dhaa
        plural isaan isaan isaanii

        References

        • Gamtaa, Xilaahun (2004), Galmee Afaan Oromo fi Afaan Ingilizii Barsiisuu - Comprehensive Oromo-English-Dictionary (COED), New York, USA: Karrayyuu Publishing, →ISBN, page 618

        Pali

        Alternative forms

        Alternative scripts

        Etymology

        From Sanskrit नु (nu), from Proto-Indo-European *nu.

        Particle

        nu

        1. then, now

        Palula

        Etymology 1

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

        Pronunciation

        Pronoun

        nu (demonstrative, Perso-Arabic spelling نوۡ)

        1. it
        2. he
        3. this one (prox masc nom)

        References

        • Henrik Liljegren; Naseem Haider (2011), “nu”, in Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎[19], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

        Etymology 2

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

        Pronunciation

        Determiner

        nu (demonstrative, Perso-Arabic spelling نوۡ)

        1. this (agr: prox nom masc)

        References

        • Henrik Liljegren; Naseem Haider (2011), “nu”, in Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎[20], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

        Plautdietsch

        Adverb

        nu

        1. now

        Polish

        Etymology 1

        From no.

        Pronunciation

         
        • Audio:(file)
        • Rhymes: -u
        • Syllabification: nu

        Interjection

        nu

        1. quick!, forward!
        2. (dialectal, Far Masovian, Łowicz) alternative form of no (“yes”)
          Umniés pisać? Nu ale umniem. (Far Masovian) ― Can you write? Yes I can.

        Etymology 2

        Coined by science fiction and fantasy writer Jacek Dukaj in 2004, in his book titled Perfect Imperfection.

        Pronunciation

        • IPA(key): /ˈnu/
        • Rhymes: -u
        • Syllabification: nu

        Pronoun

        nu

        1. genitive/accusative singular of onu

        Further reading

        Portuguese

        Alternative forms

        Etymology

        Etymology tree
        Latin nūdum
        Old Galician-Portuguese nuu
        Portuguese nu

          Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese nuu, from Latin nūdum. Compare Galician nu, Italian nudo, French nu. Doublet of nude.

          Pronunciation

          Adjective

          nu (feminine nua, masculine plural nus, feminine plural nuas)

          1. naked, nude

          Derived terms

          Further reading

          Prasuni

          Etymology

          From Proto-Nuristani, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *Hnáwa, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁néwn̥.

          Numeral

          Prasuni cardinal numbers
           <  8 9 10  > 
              Cardinal : nu

          nu (Pronz)[1]

          1. nine

          References

          1. ^ Strand, Richard F. (2016), “nu”, in Nûristânî Etymological Lexicon‎[3]

          Romanian

          Alternative forms

          Etymology

            Inherited from Latin nōn. Compare Aromanian nu.

            Pronunciation

            Adverb

            nu

            1. no
            2. not

            Usage notes

            Romanian features the double negative. Nu is stressed within a normal sentence, but in a double negative construction is left unstressed in favour of the other negative component.

            In speech—even in moderately formal contexts—nu is elided before verbs beginning with a, most notably the past perfect auxiliary avea.

            Likewise, nu triggers prodelision before words (of any part of speech) beginning with î. Elision and prodelision are orthographically marked with a hyphen where no line break may occur.

            In these cases, the syllable following the n of nu takes the sentence stress, which is stronger than the primary stress of the negated word.

            Antonyms

            Further reading

            Saterland Frisian

            Interjection

            nu

            1. well

            Serbo-Croatian

            Etymology

            Inherited from Proto-Slavic *nǫ.

            Pronunciation

            Conjunction

            nȕ (Cyrillic spelling ну̏)

            1. (Croatia) but, however
              Synonyms: ȁli, no, nut

            Further reading

            • “nu”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2026

            Shuar

            Determiner

            nu

            1. that, those

            References

            • Chicham: Dictionario Enciclopédico Shuar-Castellano

            Sicilian

            Article

            nu m sg

            1. (indefinite) a, an

            Usage notes

            Nu is used only before words beginning with the letter z or s and a consonant, like the Italian uno

            See also

            Sicilian articles
            singular plural
            masculine feminine
            indefinite article nu, un, 'n na —
            definite
            article             		liquid lu la li
            illiquid u, û a, â i, î

            South Slavey

            Pronunciation

            • IPA(key): [nù(ʔ)]
            • Hyphenation: nu

            Noun

            nu (stem -nu-)

            1. Ford Liard form of ndu

            Inflection

            Possessive inflection of nu (-nué)
            singular plural
            1st person senué naxenué
            2nd person nenué
            3rd person 1) — ginué
            2) menué gonué
            4th person yenué
            reflexive sp. ɂedenué kedenué
            unsp. denué
            reciprocal — ɂełenué
            indefinite ɂenué
            areal gonué

            1) Used when the subject is a group of human beings
            and the object is singular.
            2) Used when the previous condition does not apply.

            References

            • Keren Rice (1989), A Grammar of Slave, Berlin, West Germany: Mouton de Gruyter, →ISBN, page 11

            Sumerian

            Romanization

            nu

            1. romanization of 𒉡 (nu)

            Sundanese

            Etymology

            Shortening of anu.

            Article

            nu (Sundanese spelling ᮔᮥ)

            1. An article that denotes a noun.
              nu nyaho ― those who know
            2. An article that denotes ownership.
              Ieu nu urang, lain? ― This one's mine, right?

            Pronoun

            nu (Sundanese spelling ᮔᮥ)

            1. which
              Nu mana? ― Which one?

            Swedish

            Etymology

            From Old Swedish nū, Old Norse nú, from Proto-Germanic *nu.

            Pronunciation

            Adverb

            nu (not comparable)

            1. now (at this moment)
              Hör du mig nu?
              Can you hear me now?
              (literally, “Hear you me now?”)
              Jag har inte tid just nu
              I don't have the time right now
            2. Used to emphasize a point in time close to the present; this
              Det är fest på fredag
              There is a party on Friday
              Det är fest nu på fredag
              There is a party this Friday
              – Är festen nästa fredag? – Nej, den är nu på fredag.
              – Is the party next Friday? [Implies next week, like in English] – No, it is this Friday.
              Jag var där i måndags
              I was there on Monday
              Jag var där nu i måndags
              I was there this Monday

            Derived terms

            See also

            Noun

            nu n

            1. (usually in the definite) present, now
              att leva i nuet
              to live in the present
              1. moment (when more idiomatic in English)
                att vara närvarande i nuet
                to be present in the moment [the present]

            Declension

            Declension of nu
            nominative genitive
            singular indefinite nu nus
            definite nuet nuets
            plural indefinite — —
            definite — —

            References

            Tày

            Etymology

            From Proto-Tai *ʰnuːᴬ. Cognate with Thai หนู (nǔu), Northern Thai ᩉ᩠ᨶᩪ, Lao ໜູ (nū), Tai Dam ꪘꪴ, Lü ᦐᦴ (ṅuu), Shan ၼူ (nǔu), Zhuang nou, Saek หนู่.

            Pronunciation

            Noun

            nu (Nôm form 𪺹, 𮮬)

            1. (zoology) mouse

            References

            • Dương Nhật Thanh; Hoàng Tuấn Nam (2003), Hoàng Triều Ân, editor, Từ điển chữ Nôm Tày [A Dictionary of (chữ) Nôm Tày]‎[22] (in Tày and Vietnamese), Hanoi: Nhà xuất bản Khoa học xã hội [Social Sciences Publishing House]
            • Lương Bèn (2011), Từ điển Tày-Việt [Tay-Vietnamese dictionary]‎[23][24] (in Vietnamese), Thái Nguyên: Nhà Xuất bản Đại học Thái Nguyên

            Tetum

            Etymology

            Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *niuʀ.

            Noun

            nu

            1. coconut

            Further reading

            • Fransiskus Monteiro (1985), Kamus Tetun-Indonesia [Tetum-Indonesian Dictionary] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Pusat Pembinaan dan Pengembangan Bahasa, Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan

            Tok Pisin

            Etymology

            From English new.

            Adjective

            nu

            1. new
            2. fresh

            Tooro

            Pronunciation

            Determiner

            -nu

            1. this, these (proximal demonstrative determiner)

            Declension

            Inflected forms of -nu
            Noun class non-copulative copulative
            singular plural singular plural
            1/2 onu banu ngunu mbanu
            3/4 gunu enu ngunu nginu
            5/6 linu ganu ndinu nganu
            7/8 kinu binu nkinu mbinu
            9/10 enu zinu nginu nzinu
            11/10 runu ndunu
            12/14 kanu bunu nkanu mbunu
            13 — tunu — ntunu
            14/6 bunu ganu mbunu nganu
            15/6 kunu nkunu
            16 hanu — mpanu —
            17 kunu
            18 munu

            Derived terms

            See also

            • -li (“that (distal demonstrative determiner)”)

            References

            • Kaji, Shigeki (2007), A Rutooro Vocabulary‎[25], Tokyo: Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA), →ISBN, page 405

            Volapük

            Adverb

            nu

            1. now

            Derived terms

            Waigali

            Waigali cardinal numbers
             <  8 9 10  > 
                Cardinal : nu

            Etymology

            From Proto-Nuristani *nuwa, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *Hnáwa, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁néwn̥.

            Pronunciation

            Numeral

            nu (Nisheigram)[1]

            1. nine

            References

            1. ^ Strand, Richard F. (2016), “nu”, in Nûristânî Etymological Lexicon‎[4]

            Wauja

            Pronunciation

            Pronoun

            nu

            1. me (first-person singular indirect object pronoun)
              Pinyanka nu! Katsa umawiu? Nama!
              Tell me! What did [he] say? Come on!
              Puputatain nu kuapi.
              Give me a little [bit of] cotton thread.
            • natu (I,me, my, mine)

            References

            • E. Ireland field notes. Needs to be checked by a native speaker.

            Wolaytta

            Personal pronoun

            nu

            1. we (including the person(s) being addressed)
            2. alternative to nuuni

            Determiner

            nu

            1. our (belonging to us, excluding the person(s) being addressed (exclusive our))
              (please add the primary text of this usage example)
              Sorry, you're not invited to our party.
            2. our (belonging to us, including the person(s) being addressed (inclusive our))
              (please add the primary text of this usage example)
              We must try to save our marriage for the sake of our children.

            Wolof

            Pronoun

            nu

            1. we (first-person plural object pronoun)

            See also

            Wolof personal pronouns
            singular plural
            subject object subject object
            1st person man ma nun nu
            2nd person yow la yeen leen
            3rd person moom ko ñoom leen

            Zia

            Pronoun

            nu

            1. he
            2. she

            Zou

            Etymology

            From Proto-Kuki-Chin *nuu.

            Pronunciation

            • IPA(key): [nú]
            • Hyphenation: nu

            Noun

            nú

            1. mother

            References

            • Philip Thangliènmâng (2010), Minimal dictionary and Self-tutor Functional Grammar in Zo-English-Hindi, New Delhi: Zoculsin, →ISBN, page 56
            • Lukram Himmat Singh (2013), A Descriptive Grammar of Zou (PhD thesis), Canchipur: Manipur University, page 45
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