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# na

adverb (Scottish and Northern English: na); short form in casual speech; chemical symbol Na; also a fragment of words like «gonna», «wanna»

«na» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (Scotland, Northern England) «Na» means «no» or «not»: «I'm na going». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/na/#m1)
2. (slang, informal) «Na» or «nah» is a casual way to say «no»: «Na, I'm fine». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/na/#m2)
3. (science) Na is the chemical symbol for sodium, a soft silvery metal found in salt; it comes from its Latin name, natrium. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/na/#m3)
4. As a fragment, «na» is the end of words like «gonna» (going to) and «wanna» (want to). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/na/#m4)
5. (Mandarin, pinyin) «nà» means «that», and «ná» means «to take»; these are not English words. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/na/#m5)
6. In a pronunciation guide, na shows how to say one syllable of a longer word. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/na/#m6)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/na/#x1)
- Nah, I don't think it'll rain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/na/#x2)
- «I'm na feart,» said the Scottish lad, meaning «I'm not afraid». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/na/#x3)
- Na is the symbol for sodium on the periodic table. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/na/#x4)
- Table salt is NaCl: one sodium (Na) and one chlorine (Cl). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/na/#x5)
- I'm gon-na be late! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/na/#x6)
- In Mandarin, «nà ge» means «that one». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/na/#x7)
- Write N/A in the box if the question does not apply to you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/na/#x8)
- Naiads (na'-yads), or Naiades (na-i'-a-deez), 166, 227. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/na/#x9)

### 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».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «na» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/na/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«na» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/na.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «na» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/na/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«na» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/na.html) on Mova free.