نني

Algerian Arabic

Etymology

Nursery word used when lulling a child to sleep, widespread across North Africa and the Mediterranean basin (compare Tashelhiyt نِّنِّي (ninni), Moroccan Arabic نَنِّي (ninni), Zuwara Berber نَانُو (nānū), نُونُّو (nunnū), Nafusi نُونُو (nūnū), Awjila نَنِّي (nanni), Libyan Arabic نَنَّا (nanna), Egyptian Arabic نِنَّا (ninna)). Likely an expressive onomatopoeic lullaby formation, potentially related to Classical or Mediterranean nursery roots (compare Latin naenia (“lullaby, dirge”)).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnən.ni/

Interjection

نني (nənni)

1. (childish) beddy-bye!, night-night!, sleep! (uttered while rocking or lulling a child to sleep)

Noun

نني (nənni) m

1. (childish) sleep, bedtime

Arabic

Etymology

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

نني (form I)

1. نَنِي (nanī) /na.niː/: first-person dual/plural non-past active indicative of وَنَى (wanā)
2. نَنِيَ (naniya) /na.ni.ja/: first-person dual/plural non-past active subjunctive of وَنَى (wanā)

Moroccan Arabic

Etymology

Nursery word used when lulling a child to sleep, widespread across North Africa and the Mediterranean basin (compare Tashelhiyt نِّنِّي (ninni), Algerian Arabic نَنِّي (nənni), Zuwara Berber نَانُو (nānū), نُونُّو (nunnū), Nafusi نُونُو (nūnū), Awjila نَنِّي (nanni), Libyan Arabic نَنَّا (nanna), Egyptian Arabic نِنَّا (ninna)). Likely an expressive onomatopoeic lullaby formation, potentially related to Classical or Mediterranean nursery roots (compare Latin naenia (“lullaby, dirge”)).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnin.ni/

Interjection

نني • (ninni)

1. (childish) beddy-bye!, night-night!, sleep! (uttered while rocking or lulling a child to sleep)

Noun

نني • (ninni) m

1. (childish) sleep, bedtime

Synonyms

• دُودُو (dūdū, dōdō) (borrowed from French dodo)

North Levantine Arabic

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian ninna (“lullaby; beddy-bye”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /nin.niː/, /nin.neː/

Noun

نني • (ninnī, ninnē)

1. (childish) beddy-bye, sleepy, night-night

Interjection

نني • (ninnī, ninnē)

1. (childish) hush, go to sleep (used when rocking or putting a child to sleep)