How is the interjection "Nanu" used?

Question

In what way is "Nanu" used actually? I'm just confused about it and I would appreciate it if you could help Thank you in advance

Answer 1

Nanu is used to express astonishment/surprise mixed with an appeal for explanation.

You will find nanu hardly in normal everyday language today. It seems to have come out of use and sounds, if used, a bit outdated or perhaps even purposefully ironic. It continues however to be used in written texts presenting everyday dialogues, e.g. in novels.

Here are use cases:

"Nanu, du bist ja noch hier?" said the wife who had seen her husband leave for work, as after half an hour she found him sitting on the front lawn seemingly doing nothing.

"Nanu? Ich hatte sie doch vor fünf Minuten hier hingelegt?" said Paul staring at the empty lid of the grand piano, in search of his keys.

There are other interjections expressing emotions which - the interjections - are not any more in use:

• Potzblitz (stark surprise)

• Donnerwetter (same)

• Ei der Daus! (same)

Still in use, sometimes, although also sounding a bit manieristic (or literary):

• Herrje! (mild shock, about an unpleasant surprise)

In everyday use, at least in southern Germany:

• Oh Gott oh Gott! (or: ogottogott!) (desperation)

A dialectal example from the catholic South:

• Jeesesmariaondjoseph! (utter shock)

Another southern dialect:

• Zefix! (anger; short for "Kruzifix")