nooi

Afrikaans

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /noːi̯/

Etymology 1

From Dutch nodigen or its dated variant noden (both “to invite”), respectively from Middle Dutch nôdigen, nôden (both originally “to force, compel”); related with Afrikaans nood, English need. The shorter form yields Afrikaans nooi through regular d-loss (cf. dooie < Dutch dode). If it is from nodigen, the -g- must have been elided additionally. This does not normally happen in unstressed -ig-, but would still be likely here because of the postvocalic environment, i.e. nodigen > *nooige > nooi(e).

Verb

nooi (present nooi, present participle nooiende, past participle genooi)

1. to invite

Etymology 2

From Dutch nonna (or a byform of this), borrowed from Malay nyonya. Possibly influenced by West Frisian nonke (“dear”).

Alternative forms

• nôi, nonna, nonnie

Noun

nooi (plural nooiens, diminutive nooientjie or noointjie)

1. mistress, young lady, maiden
2. girlfriend (romantic), sweetheart
3. maiden name
4. Wife of the baas
   • ‘They no longer address them as baas and nooi, but call them by their Christian names’, Sheila Patterson, The Last Trek: A Study of the Boer People and the Afrikaner Nation, Routledge Editions, 1957, p. 252.

Derived terms

• nooiensvan
• ounooi