World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesTabu
Pronunciation / Transliteration: taˈbuː
"Über dieses Thema zu sprechen ist ein absolutes Tabu."
Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
Something that is forbidden, unacceptable, or strictly prohibited by rules, social conventions, or good taste.
"Arriving late to an important client meeting is a major no-no." - 2
In baseball, a pitcher's performance in which no hits are allowed; a no-hitter.
"The rookie pitcher threw an incredible no-no in only his third career start."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Reduplication of the negative adverb 'no', originating in colloquial English speech around the late 19th century. The doubling serves an intensifying or infantile rhetorical function, commonly used in child-rearing to indicate forbidden actions before expanding into general adult discourse for social or professional taboos.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "No-no"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "No-no" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
interdit
Transliteration: ɛ̃.tɛʁ.di
"Fumer dans les bureaux est un grand interdit."
Tabu
Transliteration: taˈbuː
"Über dieses Thema zu sprechen ist ein absolutes Tabu."
tabù
Transliteration: taˈbu
"Arrivare in ritardo a un colloquio è un grave tabù."
prohibición
Transliteration: pɾo.i.βiˈsjon
"Hablar de política en la cena es un gran error."
proibido
Transliteration: pɾojˈbi.du
"Fumar dentro de casa é estritamente proibido."
वर्जित
Transliteration: varjit
"दफ़्तर में देर से आना एक वर्जित नियम है।"
禁忌
Transliteration: jìnjì
"在正式场合穿运动鞋是不合适的。"
금기
Transliteration: geum-gi
"회의 중에 휴대폰을 사용하는 것은 큰 금기이다."
タブー
Transliteration: tabū
"ビジネスの場においてそれは大きなタブーです。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
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Not producing or containing venom; incapable of injecting poison through a bite, sting, or other mechanism.
Placing the customer's needs, experiences, and preferences at the center of a business's philosophy, operations, and decision-making.
Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "No-no"
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