nach
German
Etymology
From Middle High German nāh, from Old High German nāh with preservation of word-final -h as -ch; thus pertaining to modern nah (“near”) (from Old High German inflected nāh-), from Proto-Germanic *nēhw. Cognate with Dutch na, English nigh.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /naːx/ (generally)
- IPA(key): /nax/ (as a preposition, unless stressed)
audio (file)
Preposition
nach (followed by dative)
- after, past (later in time)
- Viertel nach sechs
- a quarter past six
- nach einer Woche
- after a week
- after, behind (in sequence)
- B kommt nach A.
- B comes after A.
- to, towards (with geographical names; see usage notes below)
- die Flucht nach Ägypten
- the flight into Egypt
- according to; guided by
- 1918, Elisabeth von Heyking, Die Orgelpfeifen, in: Zwei Erzählungen, Phillipp Reclam jun. Verlag, page 19:
- Die eigenen Zimmer hatten sich die Enkel nach persönlichem Geschmack eingerichtet.
- The grandchildren had furnished their own rooms according to their personal taste.
- 1918, Elisabeth von Heyking, Die Orgelpfeifen, in: Zwei Erzählungen, Phillipp Reclam jun. Verlag, page 19:
- by the authority of; following
- die Analyse nach Marx
- the analysis following Marx
- (with verbs of sensual perception) like (see usage notes below)
- Das riecht nach Knoblauch. ― This smells like garlic.
- for (indicating desire for an object)
- nach etwas greifen ― to reach for something
- nach etwas streben ― to strive for/after something
- nach etwas suchen ― to search for something
Usage notes
- (to, towards): The directional preposition nach is now used chiefly with geographical names that do not have an article with them: nach Ägypten, nach Hamburg, etc. Only in elevated, literary style are there remnants of a freer use of nach:
- nach dem Irak (“to Iraq”) — for which usually: in den Irak
- nach dem Schloss (“to the castle”) — for which usually: zum Schloss.
- At times, this use of nach conveys the implication that the destination is not reached. Thus: Er fuhr zum Schloss. – “He travelled to the castle [and arrived there].” But: Er fuhr nach dem Schloss. – “He travelled towards the castle [and may or may not have arrived].”
- Directional nach with personal names (or names of shops etc.) is found in the regional vernaculars of north-western Germany: nach Peter (“to Peter's house”). This is nonstandard usage.
- (like): There may be a slight semantic distinction between the use of nach and wie after a verb of sensual perception. The following phrases both translate to English as “This feels like silk”, but compare the different implications: Das fühlt sich nach Seide an. (“This feels like silk, and it probably is.”) Das fühlt sich an wie Seide. (“This feels like silk, although it’s probably something else.”) This distinction is not a strict one, however.
Postposition
nach (preceded by dative)
- according to
- meiner Meinung nach ― in my opinion
- meinem Urteil nach ― in my judgement
Adverb
nach
- (in compound verbs) after, behind, later, next to
- Meine Uhr geht nach.
- My watch is slow.
Derived terms
- danach
- nachdem
- nachher
- nach und nach
Related terms
- nach-
Further reading
- “nach” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
Irish
Alternative forms
- ná (Munster; all senses)
Etymology
From Old Irish nach, from Proto-Celtic *nekʷe, a combination of Proto-Indo-European *ne (negative particle) and *-kʷe (“and”); compare Latin neque.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /n̪ˠax/
Conjunction
nach (triggers eclipsis; used with the dependent form of an irregular verb if there is one)
- that...not (introduces a negative subordinate clause; the negation of go).
- Dúirt sé nach raibh carr aige.
- He said that he didn’t have a car.
Particle
nach (triggers eclipsis; used with the dependent form of an irregular verb if there is one)
- not (in questions)
- Nach bhfuil ocras ort?
- Are you not hungry?
- Chonaic mé í, nach bhfaca?
- I saw her, didn’t I?
Particle
nach (copular form)
- isn’t...?/whether/if it is... (introduces negative questions, both direct and indirect)
- Nach maith leat bainne?
- Don’t you like milk?
- Níl a fhios agam an miste dó nó nach miste.
- I don’t know if it matters to him or not.
- who/which isn’t... (introduces negative relative clauses, both direct and indirect)
- an bhean nach múinteoir í ― the woman who isn’t a teacher
- an bhean nach maith léi bainne ― the woman who doesn’t like milk
Related terms
Simple copular forms
| Compound copular forms
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v Used before vowel sounds |
References
- Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977), “nach”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
- G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “2 nach, nách (‘not’)”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
- G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “3 nach, nách (‘who/which ... not’)”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
- G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “4 nach, nách (‘that ... not’)”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
- G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “5 nach, nách (‘isn’t?, doesn’t?’)”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
Luxembourgish
Etymology
From Old High German noh. Cognate with German noch, Dutch nog.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /nɑχ/
- Rhymes: -ɑχ
Adverb
nach
- still
- Ech léieren nach Lëtzebuergesch.
- I'm still learning Luxembourgish.
- yet
- just
Conjunction
nach
- nor
- Luxembourgish translation of Matthew 5:35:
- nach bei der Äerd, well dat ass d'Bänkelche fir seng Féiss, nach bei Jerusalem, well dat ass deem grousse Kinnek seng Stad.
- nor by the earth, because it is the footstool for his feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
- Luxembourgish translation of Matthew 5:35:
Usage notes
- Often used with weder (“neither”).
Old Irish
Etymology
From Proto-Celtic *nekʷos (“someone, something”); compare nech (“someone”). Cognate with Welsh neb.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /n͈ax/
Determiner
nach
- some, any
- c. 800, Würzburg Glosses on the Pauline Epistles, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 499–712, Wb. 23b12
- it essamnu de ar ro·fitetar is ar nach n-indocbáil móir fo·daimim-se inso
- i.e. they are the more fearless, for they know that it is for some great glory that I endure this
- c. 800, Würzburg Glosses on the Pauline Epistles, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 499–712, Wb. 23b12
Inflection
Case | Singular | Plural | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | ||||
Nominative | nach | nachL | naH | nachaH | ||
Accusative | nachN | |||||
Genitive | nachL, naichL | nachaH | nach | — | ||
Dative | nachL | nach | ||||
L indicates a form that triggers lenition, N a form that triggers nasalization (eclipsis), and H a form that triggers /h/-prothesis. The plural forms shown occur only in negative clauses. In positive clauses, the plural is supplied by alaili, araili. |
Derived terms
- nach aile
- nach oín
- na ní
Verb
nach
- Alternative spelling of nách (“that (it) is not”)
Further reading
- G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “1 nach”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
- Thurneysen, Rudolf (1940, reprinted 2003), D. A. Binchy and Osborn Bergin, transl., A Grammar of Old Irish, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, →ISBN, § 489, pages 309–10
Scottish Gaelic
Etymology
From Old Irish nach, from Proto-Celtic *ne-kʷe. Cognate with Irish nach.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /nax/
- Hyphenation: nach
Verb
nach
- Used together with the dependent form of a verb to form negative questions.
- Nach eil an t-acras ort? ― Are you not hungry?
- Chunnaic mi i, nach fhaca? ― I saw her, didn't I?
- Nach buail thu e? ― Won't you strike him?
- Used together with the dependent form of a verb to form negative subordinate clauses; that ... not
- Bha e ag ràdh nach robh càr aige. ― He said that he didn't have a car.
Usage notes
- Traditionally lenites verbs starting in f followed by a vowel, doesn’t mutate other initial sounds.
Inflection
singular | plural | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
first | second | third m/f | first | second | third | ||||
independent | present | tha mi | tha thu | tha e/i | tha sinn | tha sibh | tha iad | ||
past | bha mi | bha thu | bha e/i | bha sinn | bha sibh | bha iad | |||
future | simple | bidh mi | bidh tu | bidh e/i | bidh sinn | bidh sibh | bidh iad | ||
emphatic | bithidh mi | bithidh tu | bithidh e/i | bithidh sinn | bithidh sibh | bithidh iad | |||
conditional | simple | bhithinn | bhiodh tu | bhiodh e/i | bhiodh sinn bhiomaid | bhiodh sibh | bhiodh iad | ||
emphatic | bhitheadh tu | bhitheadh e/i | bhitheadh sinn bhitheamaid | bhitheadh sibh | bhitheadh iad | ||||
negative | present | chan eil mi | chan eil thu | chan eil e/i | chan eil sinn | chan eil sibh | chan eil iad | ||
past | cha robh mi | cha robh thu | cha robh e/i | cha robh sinn | cha robh sibh | cha robh iad | |||
future | cha bhi mi | cha bhi thu | cha bhi e/i | cha bhi sinn | cha bhi sibh | cha bhi iad | |||
conditional | simple | cha bhithinn | cha bhiodh tu | cha bhiodh e/i | cha bhiodh sinn cha bhiomaid | cha bhiodh sibh | cha bhiodh iad | ||
emphatic | cha bhitheadh tu | cha bhitheadh e/i | cha bhitheadh sinn cha bhitheamaid | cha bhitheadh sibh | cha bhitheadh iad | ||||
affirmative interrogative | present | a bheil mi? | a bheil thu? | a bheil e/i? | a bheil sinn? | a bheil sibh? | a bheil iad? | ||
past | an robh mi? | an robh thu? | an robh e/i? | an robh sinn? | an robh sibh? | an robh iad? | |||
future | am bi mi? | am bi thu? | am bi e/i? | am bi sinn? | am bi sibh? | am bi iad? | |||
conditional | simple | am bithinn? | am biodh tu? | am biodh e/i? | am biodh sinn? am biomaid? | am biodh sibh? | am biodh iad? | ||
emphatic | am bitheadh tu? | am bitheadh e/i? | am bitheadh sinn am bitheamaid? | am bitheadh sibh? | am bitheadh iad? | ||||
negative interrogative | present | nach eil mi? | nach eil thu? | nach eil e/i? | nach eil sinn? | nach eil sibh? | nach eil iad? | ||
past | nach robh mi? | nach robh thu? | nach robh e/i? | nach robh sinn? | nach robh sibh? | nach robh iad? | |||
future | nach bi mi? | nach bi thu? | nach bi e/i? | nach bi sinn? | nach bi sibh? | nach bi iad? | |||
conditional | simple | nach bithinn? | nach biodh tu? | nach biodh e/i? | nach biodh sinn? nach biomaid? | nach biodh sibh? | nach biodh iad? | ||
emphatic | nach bitheadh tu? | nach bitheadh e/i? | nach bitheadh sinn? nach bitheamaid? | nach bitheadh sibh? | nach bitheadh iad? | ||||
relative future | simple | (a) bhios mi | (a) bhios tu | (a) bhios e/i | (a) bhios sinn | (a) bhios sibh | (a) bhios iad | ||
emphatic | (a) bhitheas mi | (a) bhitheas tu | (a) bhitheas e/i | (a) bhitheas sinn | (a) bhitheas sibh | (a) bhitheas iad | |||
imperative | simple | bitheam | bi | biodh e/i | biomaid | bithibh | biodh iad | ||
emphatic | bitheadh e/i | bitheamaid | bitheadh iad | ||||||
verbal noun | a bhith |
Impersonal forms can be found at Template:gd-conj-thathar.
singular | plural | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
first | second | third m/f | first | second | third | ||
independent | present | is mi | is tu | is e/i | is sinn | is sibh | is iad |
past | bu mhi | bu tu | b' e/i | bu sinn | bu sibh | b' iad | |
conditional | |||||||
negative | present | cha mhi | cha tu | chan e/i | cha sinn | cha sibh | chan iad |
past | cha bu mhi | cha bu tu | cha b' e/i | cha bu sinn | cha bu sibh | cha b' iad | |
conditional | |||||||
affirmative interrogative | present | am mi? | an tu? | an e/i? | an sinn? | an sibh? | an iad? |
past | am bu mhi? | am bu tu? | am b' e/i? | am bu sinn? | am bu sibh? | am b' iad? | |
conditional | |||||||
Negative interrogative | present | nach mi? | nach tu? | nach e/i? | nach sinn? | nach sibh? | nach iad? |
past | nach bu mhi? | nach bu tu? | nach b' e/i? | nach bu sinn? | nach bu sibh? | nach b' iad? | |
conditional |
Present | Past | Future | Conditional | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | thathar, thatar, thathas | bhathar, bhatar, bhathas | bithear, bitear, bitheas | bhite(adh), bhithist(e)* |
Negative | chan eilear, chan eileas | cha robhas, cha robhar | cha bithear, cha bitear, cha bitheas | cha bhite(adh), cha bhithist(e)* |
Affirmative interrogative | am beilear? am beileas? a bheilear? a bheileas? | an robhas? an robhar? | am bithear? am biteas? | am bite(adh)? am bithist(e)?* |
Negative interrogative | nach eilear? nach eileas? | nach robhas? nach robhar? | nach bithear? nach bitear? nach bitheas? | nach bite(adh)? nach bithist(e)?* |
* Lewis dialect form
References
- Edward Dwelly (1911), “nach”, in Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan [The Illustrated Gaelic–English Dictionary], 10th edition, Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited, →ISBN
- G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “2 nach, nách (‘not’)”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
- Colin Mark (2003), “nach”, in The Gaelic-English dictionary, London: Routledge, →ISBN, page 446