# nay

> English word · Adverb · IPA /neɪ/ · frequency rank #16,541

## Definitions
1. No.
2. Introducing a statement, without direct negation.
3. Or rather, or should I say; moreover (introducing a stronger and more appropriate expression than the preceding one).

## Etymology
From Middle English nai, nei, from Old Norse nei (“no”), contraction of ne (“not”) + ei (“ever”), itself from Proto-Germanic *nai (“never”), *nē (“not”). More at no.
The verb is from Middle English nayen (“to refuse, deny, gainsay”), from the interjection and adverb above.

## Easily confused with
- **NC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-nc)
- **ne** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-ne)
- **NJ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-nj)
- **ni** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-ni)
- **Ng** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-ng)
- **nm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-nm)
- **NZ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-nz)
- **NT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-nt)
- **nd** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-nd)
- **NP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-np)
- **nu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-nu)
- **NL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-nl)
- **nr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-nr)
- **NB** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-nb)
- **NN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-nn)
- **not** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-not)
- **new** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-new)
- **now** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-now)
- **non** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-non)
- **nor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nay-vs-nor)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/nay