There are languages famous for words that supposedly can’t be translated.

The Germans have Schadenfreude. The Portuguese have saudade. The Japanese have komorebi.

The Jews, especially Israeli Jews, have “nu.”

Technically it’s a word. In practice it’s a question, an accusation, a criticism, an encouragement, a passive-aggressive follow-up email and, at times, a complete performance review.

I learned “nu” young. Very young.

Usually it arrived in rapid succession.

“Nu, Marni! Nu! Nu! Nu!”

Depending on tone, volume and the angle of my father’s eyebrows, this could mean:

“What are you doing?”

“What’s taking so long?”

“Finish your sentence.”

Or, on special occasions, all of the above.

Sometimes there wasn’t even another word. Just a hand gesture, a raised eyebrow and a single “Nu?”

Your first thought isn’t, “What does she mean?” It’s, “What did I do?”

If you’ve never encountered “nu,” mazel tov on having lived a comparatively peaceful life.

Its closest English equivalent is probably “Well?” But that’s only true in the same way a tricycle is technically a vehicle. The basic concept is there. The engineering isn’t.

“Nu?” can mean, “Go on.”

It can mean, “Get to the point.”

It can mean,........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)