nau

English: ‘now’.

See original Mihalic entry.

Conjunction forms

  1. Time, season: now
    em inap bilong nau that is enough for now
    yupela olgeta i sindaun nau all of you sit down now
    nau Mande it’s Monday today

  1. Time, season: today
    ‘Wanem taim man bai kam?’ ‘Nau.’ ‘When will he come?’ ‘Today.’

  1. Time, season: a moment ago
    mi lukim em nau tasol I saw him a moment ago

  1. Time, season: recent, recently
    tisa i bilong nau tasol the teacher is new here

  1. Time, season: then, at the next point
    ol i go, go, go, na nau kamap long Wewak they kept on going and going, and then reached Wewak

Exclamation forms

  1. em nau that’s it, I told you so; (with emphasis) yes!
    ‘Wanem dok i kaikaim pik? Dispela?’ ‘Em nau.’ ‘Which dog bit the pig? This one?’ ‘Yep.’
    ‘Masin bagarap ya!’ ‘Em nau.’ ‘This stupid thing won’t work!’ ‘I told you so.’
    ‘Bos i tok orait.’ ‘Em nau!’ ‘The boss said okay.’ ‘Yes!’

  1. gutnait nau! good evening!

  1. pinis nau all finished, all gone
    ‘Tiket i stap?’ ‘Nogat, pinis nau.’ ‘Any tickets left?’ ‘No, all gone.’

Compound forms

  1. Time, season: nau tasol right now
    Wanem taim bai yumi go? Nau tasol! When are we off? Right now!

© Revising the Mihalic Project, 26 Jan 2005 [Home]