Shâu-òh nyîvâ kǜ jǖnòi

Khiamniungan Naga

Etymology

Compound of Shâu-òh (“Nobody”) +‎ nyîvâ (“know”) +‎ kǜ (“by”) +‎ jǖnòi (“nonexistent”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃɑu⁵²-ɒʔ³¹.ɲɪ⁵²vɑ⁵². kə³¹.tʃə³³nɒɪ³¹/

Phrase

(Patsho) Shâu-òh nyîvâ kǜ jǖnòi

1. A rhetorical statement uttered to show that the person uttering it neither knows the answer nor knows who might.

   Nong tikü naih tsak nü-e, tikü naih memtsho. Shâu-òh nyîvâ kǜ jǖnòi

   It could be one or the other, or both. Who knows

2. A rhetorical statement utters to express the idea that anything is possible or that anything could happen.

   Nyitsoh tikü nyitsoh toh, apa-oh cham nü shahkhem kütah tsiesha naih jumeikü iulova sheu nye, shau-oh nyiva kü jünoi.

   Who knows? Maybe someday he'll finish writing his book and make lots of money selling it.

   Shau-oh nyiva kü jünoi aleuh shi nye tü jünyi phie, nong tü nyü tha

   Don't touch that – who knows where it's been?