Motter

Central Franconian

Etymology

Borrowed from German Mutter. The native form is obsolete Moder; both are from Old High German muoter, muoder, from Proto-Germanic *mōdēr, from Proto-Indo-European *méh₂tēr.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmotʌ/

Noun

Motter (plural Mötter or Metter, diminutive Mötterche or Metterche)

1. mother

   Meng Mamm hätt sich dat net könne vürstelle, datt ich als Motter ärbeede john.

   My mother would have found it inconceivable that I should go work as a mother.

Usage notes

• The inflected forms with -ö- are Ripuarian, those with -e- are Moselle Franconian.
• The commoner word for “female parent” is Mamm, but Motter is common in other senses, e.g. “mother” as a position within the family. (Compare the example above.)

See also

• Vatter