nana
The Marshallese word for "ugly" is nana.
nana is an adjective used to describe something that is displeasing to the eye or not aesthetically pleasing.
Meaning: displeasing to the eye, not aesthetically pleasing (adj)
Did you know?
- While nana describes physical appearance, it can also be used to describe a piece of news or a general situation that is 'ugly' or unpleasant.
- In Marshallese, describing a person as nana can sometimes be more insulting than calling them 'bad', as it targets their physical appearance specifically.
- The word nana can function as a complete sentence in a conversation, acting as a predicate that means 'it is ugly' rather than just an adjective.
Examples in context
- E nana jilaak.It is an ugly drawing.
Example conversation
Sarah and John are looking at a piece of old furniture.
- SarahJohn, e nana jip jip chair ni.John, this chair is very ugly.
- JohnIakwe, ej nana jip jip.Yes, it is very ugly.
- SarahKōmāni nana jip jip.It's way too ugly.
- JohnKajje, e nana jip jip.True, it is ugly.
