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nyan

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: nyaŋ and nyàŋ

English

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Etymology

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From the Japanese onomatopoeia にゃん (nyan).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈnjɑːn/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɑːn

Interjection

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nyan

  1. (anime and manga fandom) The cry of a cat; meow, miaow.
    Synonyms: nya, nyaa, nyao

Abau

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Pronunciation

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Verb

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nyan

  1. to see vaguely

References

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  • Arjen Lock (2007) Phonology Essentials: Abau Language (in Abau), SIL International

Japanese

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Romanization

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nyan

  1. Rōmaji transcription of にゃん
  2. Rōmaji transcription of ニャン

Sranan Tongo

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Etymology

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From one or several West-African languages, ultimately from Proto-Bantu *nɲàmà. Compare Jamaican Creole nyam.

Verb

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nyan

  1. (transitive, intransitive) to eat
    • 1975, “Basya Adyuku koni”, in Ursy M. Lichtveld, Jan Voorhoeve, editors, Creole drum. An Anthology of Creole Literature in Surinam[1], New Haven, London: Yale University Press, →ISBN, page 86:
      A krabdagu taki: - Angri e kiri mi ba. A di mi si yu e nyan, ne mi kon.
      Adyuku taki: - We san mi e nyan, mi no sabi efu yu sa nyan en. Na kasaba dokun mi tyari. Efu yu sa nyan en, dan mi sa gi yu.
      The crab-eating raccoon said: 'I'm starving, brother. When I saw that you're eating, I came over immediately.
      Adyuku said: 'I say, I don't know whether you'll want to eat what I'm eating. I brought cassava duckanoo. If you'll eat it, then I'll give it to you.

Noun

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nyan

  1. food
    • 1936, Melville J. Herskovits, Frances S. Herskovits, Suriname folk-lore[2], New York: Columbia University Press, page 240:
      Kaptein sidǫ' tiri, dɛn a nyąm ala na nyąm baka. Na baka dɑti, a puri bɩgi pipa nąŋga Amer'ką tabaka, ɛn a bɩgɩn smoko te a i drųŋgu.
      [Kabten sidon tiri, den a nyan ala na nyan baka. Na baka dati, a puiri bigi pipa nanga Amerkan tabaka, èn a bigin smoko te a e drungu.]
      The captain sat down quietly, and again ate all the food. After that, he powdered a large pipe with American tobacco, and he began to smoke until he was drunk.