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נו
Nu
/noo/
Well? So? Come on! (impatient filler, nudge)
💬What does Nu mean in Hebrew?
Nu (נו, pronounced noo) is a one-syllable Yiddish-origin filler word meaning "well?", "so?", or "come on!" in Hebrew. It's extraordinarily versatile — tone and context determine the precise meaning. A questioning "nu?" means "well, what are you going to do?". A stretched-out "nuuu" signals exasperated impatience. Triple "nu nu nu" is gentle disapproval. Despite its Yiddish origins, it feels completely native to Israeli Hebrew.
🔊How to pronounce Nu
נו
Nu
noo
Capitals = stressed syllable
The Hebrew script reads right-to-left. The English transliteration uses the Israeli Sephardic pronunciation standard.
🇮🇱When do Israelis use Nu?
The most loaded one-syllable word in Hebrew. Nu can mean "well?", "so?", "get on with it", "I'm waiting", or gentle encouragement — all depending on tone and context. Say it with a rising tone and it's a question. Stretch it out ("nuuuu") and it's exasperated impatience. It's Yiddish-origin but feels completely native to Hebrew.
Fun fact
A famous Israeli joke: God appears to Moses and says "Nu?" — and Moses immediately understands the entire divine plan. The word is that expressive. Nu also appears in the classic Israeli game show chant and is one of the words that Jewish communities worldwide use to feel connected to Israel.
📝Nu in a sentence — examples
נו, מה החלטת כבר?
Nu, ma hekhlatta kvar?
Well? What have you decided already?
נו נו נו, לא כך מתנהגים.
Nu nu nu, lo kakh mitnahagim.
Tsk tsk, that's not how you behave.
...נו?
...Nu?
...So? (expectant silence)
📖Origin of Nu
From Yiddish "nu" (which itself came from Russian "nu" — ну, meaning "well/so"). Entered Hebrew through Ashkenazi Jewish immigration and is now used by all Israelis regardless of background, a testament to how Yiddish shaped modern Hebrew slang.
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