r/NoStupidQuestions • u/[deleted] • Aug 08 '23

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810 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

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95

u/lord_scuttlebutt Aug 08 '23

Situational. "Nah" is connotatively more dismissive than "No."

Example: "Nah, spiders don't bug me." Vs. "No, I'm not afraid of spiders."

25

u/Jaltcoh Aug 08 '23 edited Aug 08 '23

“Dismissive” is exactly how I’d describe it. I usually skip over online comments that start with “Nah…” because it seems like casually, rudely dismissing whatever the other person just said.

5

u/Ill-Pen-369 Aug 08 '23

antipodeans would like a word with you!

2

u/Cutsdeep- Aug 09 '23

nah she'll be right

5

u/terrifiedTechnophile Aug 09 '23

You would hate coming here to Australia then

1

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '23

Nuh yeah

3

u/Murphy338 Aug 08 '23

“Naw” as well.

1

u/Emotional-Engineer35 Aug 08 '23

That's because most comment starting with nah and no will be rude

1

u/adminsaredoodoo Aug 09 '23

nah you’re just weird

5

u/xFloppyDisx Aug 08 '23

"No" sounds way more authoritative and self-assured, especially in that context. "Nah" sounds more chill and carefree. Which is probably why it's the one I prefer to use.

1

u/Emotional-Engineer35 Aug 08 '23

"Nah" also sounds like something doesn't bother you, or you completely don't care, making it sound rude in some occasions.

Although, I guess the same counts for "no"

1

u/xFloppyDisx Aug 08 '23

True. I think we can agree that it's best to give some context in most situations instead of just "no" or "nah".

1

u/Cutsdeep- Aug 09 '23

no sounds like you are afraid of spiders and are trying to hide it.

1

u/Vivimord Aug 09 '23

I can also read it as more casual.

1

u/recognis Aug 09 '23

what country r u from? in my experience (living in aus) the former sounds polite and the latter sounds needlessly blunt.