nee-naw

interjection

Imitating the two-tone siren on a vehicle used by emergency services.

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Meanings

interjection
  1. BritishchildishonomatopoeicImitating the two-tone siren on a vehicle used by emergency services.

    Tom is in rapt communion with his police car, lying on his stomach, pushing it round and round, making nee-naw noises.

    2007, Penelope Lively, Consequences
    2 more examples

    If it had not been preceded by the nee-naw of fire engines it meant that no warning had been given. There would be casualties.

    2001, Bernard MacLaverty, The Anatomy School

    Whenever an opponent went down, be it genuine or feigned, the West Ham faithful would simultaneously cry 'Nee-naw, nee-naw, nee-naw, nee-naw', mimicking the sound of an ambulance.

    2004, Neil Humphreys, Notes from an Even Smaller Island

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
wee woo
Cite this entry
APA

nee-naw. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nee-naw

MLA

“nee-naw.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nee-naw. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nee-naw,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nee-naw.

Source: nee-naw on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.