Moin
{{short description|Germanic greeting meaning "hello"}}
{{Other uses}}
File:Schleswig-Holstein, Nordhastedt,Ortseingangsschild NIK 2491.jpg, Schleswig-Holstein.]]
Moin, moi or mojn is a Low German, Frisian, High German ({{lang|de|moin [moin]}} or {{lang|de|Moin, [Moin]}}),Duden: [https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/moin__moin_
Usage
File:Niedersächsisches Umweltministerium Transparent refugees welcome.jpg Ministry for Environment, Energy, and Climate Protection]]
Moin is used at all times of day, not just in the morning (see Etymology section below).{{cite book|title=Nordseefische gehen auf Wurm: Schöne Ferien an der Waterkant. Der lustigste Urlaubsratgeber am plattdeutschen Strand |first=Volker |last=ut Westerend |publisher=BoD – Books on Demand |year=2004 |isbn=3-8334-0025-0 |pages=11–12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lNgLWysldCYC&pg=PA11 |language=German |accessdate=2011-05-31}} The reduplicated form moin moin is often heard,Plattmaster.de, [http://www.plattmaster.de/moinmoin.htm Moinmoin - wat heet dat?]. Retrieved 2011-05-31. although some authors claim it is regarded by locals as tourists' usage.{{cite book|title=Nordseeküste Schleswig-Holstein |first=Andreas |last=Bormann |edition=2nd |publisher=Mair Dumont Marco Polo |year=2005 |isbn=3-8297-0302-3 |language=German |page=15 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6jrQdFb6iW4C&pg=PA15 |accessdate=2011-05-31}}
Etymology
{{wiktionary}}
Due to the similarity of the words one might think that moin derives from various regional pronunciations of {{lang|de|(Guten) Morgen}} ("good morning"), which tend to alter, vocalise, or skip rg. However, the word may actually also derive from the Dutch, Frisian, and Low German word {{lang|nl|mo(o)i}}, meaning "beautiful" or "good". Similar forms in Low Saxon are {{lang|nds|mooien Dag}}, {{lang|nds|mooien Abend}}, {{lang|nds|mooien Mor(g)en}}. Possibly, as is common in etymology, one origin is correct (from {{lang|de|Morgen}} or {{lang|nl|mooi}}) but spread thanks to its oral assimilation with the other term.
The Luxembourgish cognate of the word is {{lang|lb|moien}}, which can mean either "hi" or "morning" ({{lang|lb|gudde Moien!}} means "good morning!"). Interestingly, in the area of Germany bordering Luxembourg, it is common to use {{lang|de|moin}}, instead of {{lang|lb|moien}}.
Unlike {{lang|de|Guten Morgen}}, {{lang|de|moin}} can be used at any time of day. It is semantically equivalent to the Low Saxon (Plattdüütsch) greeting {{lang|nds|Dagg}} and replaced it in many areas. In Hessen, {{lang|de|mojn}} is used for hello and good bye, but {{lang|de|mojn mojn}} is solely used for good bye. The double form {{lang|da|Moin Moin}} is also used as an all day greeting in for example Flensburg that belonged to Denmark until 1864.
{{lang|fi|Moi}}
In Finland, a similar greeting {{lang|fi|moi}} ({{IPA|fi|ˈmoi̯|pron}}) is used for "hello", "hi" in the Finnish language. It may have been borrowed from German in the 19th century. The earliest records of the word occur in Southeast Finland, which had strong connection through Viipuri to partially German-speaking Estonia and Latvia.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-22 |title=Uutta tietoa suomen kielen tutkimuksesta – ”moro” ei tulekaan Tampereelta |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20061118 |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Yle Uutiset |language=fi}} However, {{lang|fi|moi moi}} is used as a good bye, similarly to "bye bye" in English, even with a similar intonation. Both are particularly typical of Southwestern Finnish, but through internal migration spread to the capital and with the help of TV to the rest of the language area. {{lang|fi|Moi}}'s use is identical to that of {{lang|fi|hei}}: diminutive forms {{lang|fi|heippa}} and {{lang|fi|moikka}}, and duplication as a good bye.
{{lang|fi|Moro}} is found in some parts of Finland and has also been used in the same way as {{lang|fi|moi}}. It is theorised that it comes from Tampere due to its large number of foreign workers and like {{lang|fi|moi}} has been borrowed from morrow and abbreviated.
{{lang|gos|Moi}} is also used in Dutch Low Saxon dialects in the eastern part of the provinces Groningen and Drenthe.
See also
References
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Category:German words and phrases
Category:Greeting words and phrases