What does the word nu mean in yiddish?

Answer 1

You've struck one of those words that's virtually un-translatable.

Here's an attempt:

Married couple are getting ready to go out and meet another couple for a fancy dinner.

Wife has bathed, dried and done her hair, done her nails, put on her gown, finished

her entire make-up, and the husband is still shaving. 20 minutes later, she's pacing

back and forth outside the bedroom and looking at her watch. She pushes the door

open to the bedroom, and he's there in front of the mirror, trying to tie his tie for the

fourteenth time. She doesn't say a word. She just stands there, with her arms folded,

tapping her foot, looking daggers at him, and finally she says "Well l l l l l l ..." ...

starting low and rising as she drags the word out to five times its normal length.

That "Welllll . . . " is the closest I can come to an English translation of "Nu ?"

Answer 2

"Nu" in Yiddish is an interjection that is used to prompt a response, express impatience, or seek agreement. It can be translated as "so?" or "well?" in English.