French Conversation · Level 22
90 words
French word
nan
Pronunciation
IPA/nɑ̃/
Meaning
- interjectionnah
Example
Il a répondu nan, il ne veut pas y aller.
He replied, 'Nah, he does not want to go'.
More examples
Elle a dit nan quand on lui a proposé.
She said no when it was offered to her.
Core concept
A small burst of spoken negation in an ordinary conversation or message.
Common phrases
dire nan
say no
répondre nan
reply no
Similar words
non: The standard everyday reply meaning no.
si: A brief yes that contradicts a negative statement or question.
non merci: A polite way to decline an offer or suggestion.
Definition in French
S'emploie pour exprimer une négation ou un refus bref, surtout employée à l'oral et dans les messages informels.
Word origin
The form nan represents a colloquial pronunciation of non, whose deeper source is the Latin negative word non.
Usage tips
- Nan commonly appears in dialogue and informal messages, while non remains the standard form for neutral or formal contexts.
Other meanings
- nointerjection
Opposites
- ouiyesinterjection