‖nou ja, interjectional phrase

/ˈnəʊ ˈjɑː/
Forms:
Also nouja, and (formerly) nouwja.
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, nou now + ja yes.
‘Now then’, ‘well, all right’, ‘very well, then’, ‘well then’: an interjection which either introduces the consequences of a prior statement or set of circumstances, or expresses resigned acceptance.
1900 B. Mitford Aletta 227‘Is he mad?’ ‘No. Only violent. Wants to fight everybody with his fists.’ ‘Nouwja. I would cure that “madness” with a sjambok if I were the Commandant’ growled another.
1971 Sunday Times 31 Oct. (caption)Ja? Ha! Ha! Nou ja, that’s intriguing news. Well done.
1972 Radio South Africa 19 May (Short Stories from Sn Afr.)Ag nou ja, it doesn’t really matter.
1977 I. Margo in Quarry ’77 158‘Here my girl, Christmas: a cake, two Cokes, some crackers and a blue pinafore.’ Nouja, and also a bit of fun, Oude Meester, whisky and some red wine.
1977 N. Okes in Quarry ’77 139‘Nou ja, toe,’ he said to the youth. ‘Greetings to September. We’ll make a plan.’
1986 S. Sepamla Third Generation 21‘Tell me,’ said the officer, ‘where are you from and going?’ ‘Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg.’ ‘Nou ja, show me the permit?’
‘Now then’, ‘well, all right’, ‘very well, then’, ‘well then’: an interjection which either introduces the consequences of a prior statement or set of circumstances, or expresses resigned acceptance.
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19001986
notsung, nounn.no what, adverbial phraseadv. phr.
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