na

Everyday

1. (Scotland, Northern England) «Na» means «no» or «not»: «I'm na going». tree →
2. (slang, informal) «Na» or «nah» is a casual way to say «no»: «Na, I'm fine». tree →
3. (science) Na is the chemical symbol for sodium, a soft silvery metal found in salt; it comes from its Latin name, natrium. tree →
4. As a fragment, «na» is the end of words like «gonna» (going to) and «wanna» (want to). tree →
5. (Mandarin, pinyin) «nà» means «that», and «ná» means «to take»; these are not English words. tree →
6. In a pronunciation guide, na shows how to say one syllable of a longer word. tree →

In the lessons

In chats and stories «na/nah» shows a relaxed, friendly «no». In Scottish stories and songs «na» or «nae» means «not». In science, Na appears in the periodic table and in salt: NaCl is sodium chloride, table salt. If you see «na» after «gon» or «wan» it is clipped speech. Also «N/A» means «not applicable» on forms – a different thing.

Examples

• «Want a biscuit?» «Na, I'm full, thanks.» tree →
• Nah, I don't think it'll rain. tree →
• «I'm na feart,» said the Scottish lad, meaning «I'm not afraid». tree →
• Na is the symbol for sodium on the periodic table. tree →
• Table salt is NaCl: one sodium (Na) and one chlorine (Cl). tree →
• I'm gon-na be late! tree →
• In Mandarin, «nà ge» means «that one». tree →
• Write N/A in the box if the question does not apply to you. tree →
• Naiads (na'-yads), or Naiades (na-i'-a-deez), 166, 227. tree →

Note

Mostly spoken or informal; in careful writing use «no» or «not». The symbol Na always has a capital N and small a. Do not confuse with «nay» (an old word for «no», also used when voting) or «neigh» (the sound a horse makes). «N/A» on forms means «not applicable» or «not available».

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it is an old word added to a request, like "please," as in a polite plea.

Interpretation. Tradition sees it as a gentle way of asking, used when a person begs or urges.

Note

Mostly spoken or informal; in careful writing use «no» or «not». The symbol Na always has a capital N and small a. Do not confuse with «nay» (an old word for «no», also used when voting) or «neigh» (the sound a horse makes). «N/A» on forms means «not applicable» or «not available».