ना for Softening

Softening with ना

Level 5Sounds Like nā (naramī)

ना at the end of a request makes it friendly and a little coaxing.

How It Works

ना is a small softening tag. A plain command can sound sharp; ना makes it friendly.

ना is not the same word as नाहीं. नाहीं is "no" or "not". ना, at the end of a request, only warms it up. As a stand-alone answer, ना is a soft "no".

With someone you must respect, add a name or जी, and use the -इए form: बइठिए ना, चाचा जी.

चलौ ना, देर होत अहै।
Come on, it's getting late.
ना makes चलौ friendly.
एक कप चाय पियौ ना।
Have a cup of tea, won't you?
ना turns the offer into a coaxing one.
तनिक बताव ना, ऊ कहाँ गवा?
Do tell me, where did he go?
ना softens the question.
आजु घरे रुकि जाइए ना, मौसी।
Stay at home today, Mausi, please.
ना goes after the verb and before the name.

Using नाहीं where ना is meant.
चलौ नाहीं, देर होत अहै।
चलौ ना, देर होत अहै।
नाहीं means no. The softening tag is ना.

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

ना for SofteningLevel 5Softening with ना

This ना softens a command and must be told apart from नाहीं.

ना

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