なう

Japanese

Etymology 1

Wasei eigo (和製英語; pseudo-anglicism), derived from now. Said to originate on Twitter.

Suffix

なう or ナウ • (-nau) 

1. (slang) doing ~ right now

   電話(でんわ)なう

   denwa nau

   on the phone right now

2. (slang) at ~ right now

   ロンドンなう

   Rondon nau

   in London right now

Related terms

• ナウい (naui)

Etymology 2

Suffix

なう • (-nau) 

1. (non-productive) Attached to the stem of nouns and adjectives to create a verb indicating the doing of such.

   伴(ともな)う

   tomonau

   to accompany, to follow; to bring along, to take along (< 共(とも) (tomo))

Etymology 3

Verb

なう • (nau) godan (stem ない (nai), past なった (natta))

1. 綯う: to twine (into a rope etc.)

Further reading

• Oldest extant uses of なう on Twitter