naw
No, said the Southern way.
Also called nah, no.
Updated September 24, 2026
naw pronunciation
/NAW/
Meaning
Plain no, spelled the way it often sounds in rural Southern and Appalachian talk. Softer and more drawn-out than a clipped city "no." You can stretch it for emphasis ("nawww") or keep it short when you're shutting something down without much fuss.
How folks use it
- “You goin' fishin' today? Naw, it's too dang hot.”
- “Naw, I ain't mad. Just tired.”
Origin and etymology
A spoken spelling of no with the open Southern vowel. Related forms show up in Scottish, northern British, and North American informal English. In redneck and mountain speech it is everyday porch talk, not a made-up slang coinage.
Frequently asked questions
Is naw different from nah?
Same basic meaning. Naw is the Southern/Appalachian spelling folks write when they hear that open "aw" sound.