Definition
New or fresh; something that did not exist before or has not been used before.
Example
उसने एक नया काम शुरू किया।
Show translation
He started a new job.
Etymology
From Sanskrit नव (nava, "new"), which is cognate with Latin novus and Greek νέος (neos). The Sanskrit form evolved through Prakritic and Apabhraṃśa stages, with the long final vowel marking masculine singular agreement.
Cultural note
नया carries strong positive connotations in Hindi culture — phrases like नया साल (new year) and नई शुरुआत (new beginning) are especially common during festivals such as Diwali and the Hindu New Year. A common proverb is "नया नौ दिन, पुराना सौ दिन" (New things last nine days, old things last a hundred), used to caution against chasing novelty.