A traditional wind instrument, also spelled 'ney', consisting of a hollow reed or bamboo tube with finger holes. Common in Middle Eastern and Central Asian music.
From Persian 'nay' meaning 'reed' or 'cane', related to the plant material from which the instrument is traditionally made. The word spread along trade routes and appears in various forms across cultures that adopted this instrument type.
The nai represents one of humanity's oldest musical innovations – literally breathing music through a simple reed, transforming the hollow stem of a plant into an instrument capable of profound emotional expression. Rumi famously used the nai as a metaphor for the human soul, separated from its source and crying out in longing, showing how a simple instrument can embody deep spiritual meaning.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.