aitsa ha

Etymology
negation + emphatic particle

Pronunciation

 * , [ˈaɪ.t͡sɐ ha]

Interjection

 * 1) no expressing refusal, denial, or disagreement
 * Punupawi? Aitsa ha. Aitsa nunupawi.
 * Q: Did you see [it]? A: No, I didn't see [it].
 * Pitsu piyawi nitsuhoja? Aitsa ya!
 * Q: Was it you that took my fishhooks? A: Certainly not!
 * 1) nothing, none in response to a question
 * Hain? Katsa pumawi? Aitsa ha.
 * Q: Huh? What did you say? A: I didn't say anything.
 * Katsa uputa piyu? Aitsa ha.
 * Q: What did [she] give you? A: Nothing.
 * Kaitsa itsakala uputa piyu? Aitsa ha.
 * Q: How many did [she] give you? A: None.

Usage notes
Various emphatic particles may be added to or substituted for ha to express strong refusal, denial, disagreement, or disbelief: aitsa wa ha!, aitsa wiu!, aitsa ya! (no way! absolutely not! not in the least!)

Numeral

 * 1)  A numerical value equal to 0; the number preceding paunwaun.

Usage notes
In 1983, the Wauja spoke almost no Portuguese, and did not have a word for the number zero. In the ensuing decades, they have established village schoolhouses that teach literacy and basic mathematics in both Wauja and Portuguese. As of 2014, young Wauja routinely use the term aitsa ha to refer to the number zero.