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come on; modal particle indicating a certain degree of urgency or impatience on behalf of the speaker.
Ga nou! Straks kom je nog te laat! ― Come on now! Or you'll be late!
modal particle expressing a certain contrast or disjuncture
Dat is nou ook weer overdreven! ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
(informal)alternative form of nu: now, at the present time
Wat is er nou weer dan? ― What is it now then?
Usage notes
Not used in Belgium. In the (northern) Netherlands there is to a large extent a functional split between the forms nou(modal particle and interjection) vs. nu(temporal adverb). Temporal nou is informal and not used by all speakers.
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Probably from French "nous" or a clipping of Louisiana Creole "nouzòt" and/or French "nous autres".”)
Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.
Nou is one of the adjectives which, following the French model, are often preposited to nouns instead of the usual Romanian postposition. This is typical of more literary language.
It is possible, but not necessary, for this to introduce subtle distinctions in meaning. For example, o nouă carte could mean “a newly published book”, while o carte nouă would be “a newly bought or newly printed book”.