Indeed: nō

Level 3

Nō after a word makes it stronger: “really” or “indeed”.

How It Works

SentenceMeaning
Maikaʻi nō ka mea ʻai.The food is really good.
Ua hele nō ʻo Kala i ke kula.Kala did go to school.
Aia nō ka puke ma ke pākaukau.The book is indeed on the table.

The Reference Grammar shows nō as a strengthening particle, for example Aia nō ʻo ia i Hilo “He is still in Hilo” and ʻAʻole nō ʻo ia i kōkua mai “He did not even help me”. So the English can be “really”, “indeed”, “still” or “even”, and the sentence shows which. Do not mix it up with no “for”, which is a different word.

Examples (4)

  1. Maikaʻi nō ka mea ʻai.

    The food is really good.

    Nō stresses maikaʻi.

  2. Ua hele nō ʻo Kala i ke kula.

    Kala did go to school.

    Nō stresses the verb.

  3. Aia nō ka puke ma ke pākaukau.

    The book is indeed on the table.

    Nō stresses aia.

  4. ʻO Leilani nō kēlā.

    That is indeed Leilani.

    Nō stresses the name.

Common Mistakes

  • The kahakō is missing on nō.

    Ua hele no ʻo Kala i ke kula.
    Ua hele nō ʻo Kala i ke kula.

    Without the kahakō the word is no, “for”, which does not fit before ʻo Kala. Add the mark to make the strong word.

How It Connects

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

Indeed: nōLevel 3

Learn This First

Nō looks like no but has a kahakō and adds strength.

Words in This Pattern

nō