Nuh
/ NUH /Quick answer: Nuh (pronounced NUH) is ‘no’, ‘not’, ‘don’t’ — and a tag like ‘right?’.
What does Nuh mean?
Nuh is the main negative word in Patois: ‘no’, ‘not’ or ‘don’t’. ‘Mi nuh know’ means I don’t know. At the end of a sentence it softens a request or adds ‘right?’: ‘Come nuh!’ (come on!).
Where does Nuh come from?
It comes from English ‘no’/’not’. Patois uses one simple negative where English uses several (don’t, doesn’t, didn’t, isn’t).
How to use Nuh
Nuh differs from nah: nah marks the future (‘mi nah go’ — I’m not going). Neva marks the past (‘mi neva go’ — I didn’t go).
| Jamaican Patois | English |
|---|---|
| Mi nuh know. | I don’t know. |
| Nuh badda mi! | Don’t bother me! |
| Gimme a bly, nuh. | Give me a break, please. |
Other spellings
Because Patois is mostly spoken, spellings vary. You may also see: nu, no, nah.
Related Patois words
Nah · Neva · Cyaan · Nuh worry
Frequently asked
What is the difference between nuh and nah?
Nuh is general ‘not/don’t’; nah is future ‘won’t/am not going to’.
What does ‘come nuh’ mean?
Come on! (a friendly push).
Look up more words in the Jamaican Patois Dictionary, or see Nuh in the dictionary.