nary
Not a single one; none at all.
Also called nary a, nary one.
Updated September 24, 2026
nary pronunciation
/NAIR-ee/
Meaning
Nary means zero, and it usually hits harder than a plain none. "Nary a bite left" means the plate is clean. In Appalachian and Southern talk it pairs with a or one a lot: nary a chance, nary one showed. Folks also stack it with other negatives ("ain't got nary"), which is normal porch grammar even if a textbook fidgets.
How folks use it
- “We drove all over the county and found nary a spare tire that fit.”
- “He ain't got nary a reason to be late except he overslept.”
Origin and etymology
From ne'er a or never a, shortened until the phrase stuck as one word. Mountain speech kept the old adjective sense. Its partner is ary (any), from e'er a. DARE marks nary as chiefly South and South Midland.
Frequently asked questions
Do you say nary or nary a?
Both show up. Nary a before a noun is common. Some speakers just say nary one or ain't got nary.