# naw

/ˈnɑ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/naw
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. no

interjection · CEFR B1 · Informal · Dialect

a very casual way to say no.

For teachers: an informal or dialectal variant of the negative particle 'no'.

- "Do you want to go out tonight?" "Naw, I'm too tired."
- When asked if he regretted his decision to leave the firm, he simply replied, "Naw, it was time for a change."

Usage: Used almost exclusively in speech or informal text messaging.

Teaching tip: This is a relaxed, often regional pronunciation. Students should avoid using it in any professional or academic writing.

## Examples

- Naw, I don't think I want to go out tonight.
- When I asked if he had finished the report yet, he just laughed and said naw.
- While the formal proposal required a written rejection, the initial verbal response was a simple 'naw' from the lead developer, indicating the idea was non-viable from the start.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.