we

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See also: Appendix:Variations of "we"

English[edit]

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English we, from Old English wē (“we”), from Proto-West Germanic *wiʀ, from Proto-Germanic *wīz, *wiz (“we”), from Proto-Indo-European *wéy (“we (plural)”). Cognate with Scots wee, we (“we”), North Frisian we (“we”), West Frisian wy (“we”), Low German wi (“we”), Dutch we, wij (“we”), German wir (“we”), Danish, Swedish and Norwegian vi (“we”), Icelandic vér, við (“we”), Avestan 𐬬𐬀𐬉𐬨‎ (vaēm), Sanskrit वयम् (vayám).

Pronunciation[edit]

Pronoun[edit]

we (first-person plural nominative case, objective case us, reflexive ourselves, reflexive singular ourself, possessive (with noun) our, possessive (without noun) ours)

  1. (personal) The speakers/writers, or the speaker/writer and at least one other person (not the person being addressed). (This is the exclusive we.)
    • 2017 February 20, Paul Mason, “Climate scepticism is a far-right badge of honour – even in sweltering Australia”, in the Guardian‎[1]:
      It’s time to overcome queasiness and restraint. We, the liberal and progressive people of the world, are at war with the far right to save the earth.
  2. (personal) The speaker(s)/writer(s) and the person(s) being addressed. (This is the inclusive we.)
  3. (personal) The speaker/writer alone. (This use of we is the editorial we, used by writers and others, including royalty—the royal we—as a less personal substitute for I. The reflexive case of this sense of we is ourself.)
    • 2021, Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, “Paper No. CMAB C4/9/1”, in Documents of the Hong Kong Legislative Council‎[2], page 1:
      In light of the promulgation of the aforementioned laws and decisions, we propose to make the following amendments to local legislation to implement the relevant requirements on oath taking by public officers.
  4. (personal) The plural form of you, including everyone being addressed.
    How are we all tonight?
  5. (personal, often considered patronising) A second- or third-person pronoun for a person in the speaker's care.
    How are we feeling this morning?

Derived terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

  • Jamaican Creole: wi
  • Sranan Tongo: wi

Translations[edit]

Determiner[edit]

we

  1. The speakers/writers, or the speaker/writer and at least one other person.
    We Canadians like to think of ourselves as different.

Anagrams[edit]

Abinomn[edit]

Noun[edit]

we

  1. tree kangaroo

References[edit]

  • Newguineaworld, citing Donohue and Musgrave, Abinomn nominal number (2007: 365)

Anguthimri[edit]

Noun[edit]

we

  1. (Mpakwithi) owl

References[edit]

  • Terry Crowley, The Mpakwithi dialect of Anguthimri (1981), page 189

Caac[edit]

Determiner[edit]

we

  1. water
    kô-ny we
    'my (glass/drink of) water'

References[edit]

Chuukese[edit]

Determiner[edit]

we (plural kewe)

  1. (possessive subject marker) the (singular)

Dadibi[edit]

Noun[edit]

wẹ

  1. water

Synonyms[edit]

References[edit]

  • Karl J. Franklin, Comparative Wordlist 1 of the Gulf District and adjacent areas (1975), page 67
  • Karl James Franklin, Pacific Linguistics (1973, →ISBN, page 130: Polopa so/sou woman, cf. DAR sou female animal but we woman. Several multiple cognate sets appeared in the data. Daribi uses both ạị and wẹ for water; some Polopa speakers gave one term, some another. Both are probably known everywhere.

Dutch[edit]

Etymology[edit]

See wij.

Pronunciation[edit]

Pronoun[edit]

we (personal pronoun)

  1. we

Inflection[edit]

Dutch personal pronouns
subject object possessive reflexive genitive5
singular full unstr. full unstr. full unstr. pred.
1st person ik 'k1 mij me mijn m'n1 mijne me mijner, mijns
2nd person jij je jou je jouw je jouwe je jouwer, jouws
2nd person archaic or regiolectal gij ge u – uw – uwe u uwer, uws
2nd person formal u – u – uw – uwe zich uwer, uws
3rd person masculine hij ie1 hem 'm1 zijn z'n1 zijne zich zijner, zijns
3rd person feminine zij ze haar h'r1, 'r1, d'r1 haar h'r1, 'r1, d'r1 hare zich harer, haars
3rd person neuter het 't1 het 't1 zijn z'n1 zijne zich zijner, zijns
plural
1st person wij we ons – ons, onze2 – onze ons onzer, onzes
2nd person jullie je jullie je jullie je – je –
2nd person archaic or regiolectal6 gij ge u – uw – uwe u uwer, uws
2nd person formal u – u – uw – uwe zich uwer, uws
3rd person zij ze hen3, hun4 ze hun – hunne zich hunner, huns
1) Not as common in written language.
2) Inflected as an adjective.
3) In prescriptivist use, used only as direct object (accusative).
4) In prescriptivist use, used only as indirect object (dative). 		5) Archaic. Nowadays used for formal, literary or poetic purposes, and in fixed expressions.
6) To differentiate from the singular gij, and in a similar vein to "you lot" or "you guys" in English, it is common to use gijlui ("you people") or gijlieden ("you people") or one of their contracted variants, and their corresponding objects, possessives and reflexives, in the plural.


Synonyms[edit]

See also[edit]

Fijian[edit]

Noun[edit]

we

  1. scar

Fwâi[edit]

we

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.

Noun[edit]

we

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References[edit]

  • André-Georges Haudricourt, Françoise Ozanne-Rivierre, Dictionnaire thématique des langues de la région de Hienghène (1982)

Galoli[edit]

Noun[edit]

we

  1. (Talur) water

References[edit]

Haeke[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

we

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References[edit]

  • Jean Claude Rivierre, Sabine Ehrhart, Raymond Diéla, Le Bwatoo: et les dialectes de la région de Koné (2006)

Haveke[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

we

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References[edit]

  • Jean Claude Rivierre, Sabine Ehrhart, Raymond Diéla, Le Bwatoo: et les dialectes de la région de Koné (2006)

Hmwaveke[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.

Noun[edit]

we

  1. water

References[edit]

Ido[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

we (plural we-i)

  1. The name of the Latin script letter W/w.

See also[edit]

Japanese[edit]

Romanization[edit]

we

  1. Rōmaji transcription of ゑ
  2. Rōmaji transcription of ヱ
  3. Rōmaji transcription of うぇ
  4. Rōmaji transcription of ウェ

Jawe[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.

Noun[edit]

we

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References[edit]

  • André-Georges Haudricourt, Françoise Ozanne-Rivierre, Dictionnaire thématique des langues de la région de Hienghène (1982)

Kikuyu[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Pronoun[edit]

we (second person singular)

  1. you, thou
Related terms[edit]
  • -aku (“your, thy”)

Etymology 2[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Pronoun[edit]

we (third person singular)

  1. s/he
Related terms[edit]
  • -ake (“his/her”)

See also[edit]

Independent personal pronouns in Kikuyu
singular plural
1st person niĩ ithuĩ
2nd person we /wɛ(ː)/ inyuĩ
3rd person we /wɛ/ o

References[edit]

  • “we” in Benson, T.G. (1964). Kikuyu-English dictionary, p. 561. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Laboya[edit]

Noun[edit]

we

  1. water

References[edit]

Lower Sorbian[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Preposition[edit]

we (with locative)

  1. Alternative form of w (especially before labial consonants and consonant clusters)

Mapudungun[edit]

Adjective[edit]

we (using Raguileo Alphabet)

  1. new, recent

References[edit]

  • Wixaleyiñ: Mapucezugun-wigkazugun pici hemvlcijka (Wixaleyiñ: Small Mapudungun-Spanish dictionary), Beretta, Marta; Cañumil, Dario; Cañumil, Tulio, 2008.

Middle English[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

from Old English wē (“we”), from Proto-Germanic *wīz, *wiz (“we”), from Proto-Indo-European *wéy (“we (plural)”). Compare wit (first person dual pronoun).

Alternative forms[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Pronoun[edit]

we (accusative us, we, genitive oure, possessive determiner oures)

  2. First-person plural pronoun: we
  3. First-person plural accusative pronoun: us
Descendants[edit]
See also[edit]
Middle English personal pronouns
nominative accusative dative genitive possessive
singular 1st-person I, ich, ik me min
mi1		 min
2nd-person þou þe þin
þi1		 þin
3rd-person m he him
hine2		 him his his
hisen
f sche, heo hire
heo 		hire hire
hires, hiren
n hit hit
him2		 his, hit —
dual3 1st-person wit unk unker
2nd-person ȝit inc inker
plural 1st-person we us, ous oure oure
oures, ouren
2nd-person4 ye yow youre youre
youres, youren
3rd-person inh. he hem
he2		 hem here here
heres, heren
bor. þei þem, þeim þeir þeir
þeires, þeiren

1Used preconsonantally or before h.
2Early or dialectal.
3Dual pronouns are only sporadically found in Early Middle English; after that, they are replaced by plural forms. There are no third-person dual forms in Middle English.
4Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

References[edit]

Etymology 2[edit]

From Old English wēa, from Proto-Germanic *waiwô. Doublet of wowe.

Alternative forms[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

we (uncountable)

  2. woe, grief, sadness
References[edit]

Middle Low German[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From Old Saxon hwē, from Proto-West Germanic *hwaʀ, from Proto-Germanic *hwaz.

Pronoun[edit]

wê (accusative wēne or wen, dative wēme or wem, genitive wes)

  1. (interrogative, masculine, feminine) who

Etymology 2[edit]

From Proto-Germanic *wiz.

Pronoun[edit]

wê

  1. (personal, first person, in the plural, nominative) Alternative form of wî.

Nedebang[edit]

Noun[edit]

we

  1. blood

References[edit]

  • Gary Holton and Laura Robinson, The Internal History of the Alor-Pantar language family, in The Alor-Pantar languages: History and Typology, edited by Marian Klamer
  • transnewguinea.org (wæ), ASJP 1 (wE i.e. wɛ), ASJP 2 (we)

Nemi[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.

Noun[edit]

we

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References[edit]

  • André-Georges Haudricourt, Françoise Ozanne-Rivierre, Dictionnaire thématique des langues de la région de Hienghène (1982)

North Ambrym[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.

Noun[edit]

we

  1. water

Further reading[edit]

  • Darrell T. Tryon, New Hebrides languages: an internal classification (1976)
  • George William Grace, The position of the Polynesian languages within the Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) language family (1959)

Nyâlayu[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.

Noun[edit]

we

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References[edit]

  • Jim Hollyman, K. J. Hollyman, Études sur les langues du Nord de la Nouvelle-Calédonie (1991), page 81

Old English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Germanic *wiz, *wīz, from Proto-Indo-European *wéy-, plural of *éǵh₂. Cognate with Old Frisian wī (West Frisian wy), Old Saxon wī (Low German wi), Old Dutch wī (Dutch wij), Old High German wir (German wir), Old Norse vér (Danish and Swedish vi), Gothic 𐍅𐌴𐌹𐍃 (weis).

Pronunciation[edit]

Pronoun[edit]

wē (personal pronoun)

  1. we (nominative plural of iċ)

Descendants[edit]

Pije[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.

Noun[edit]

we

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References[edit]

  • André-Georges Haudricourt, Françoise Ozanne-Rivierre, Dictionnaire thématique des langues de la région de Hienghène (1982)

Polish[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Slavic *vъ(n), from Proto-Indo-European *én

Pronunciation[edit]

Preposition[edit]

we (mostly before words that begin with awkward consonant clusters)

  1. (+ locative) in
  2. (+ accusative) into, in

Further reading[edit]

  • we in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
  • we in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Spanish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Variant of güey, representing the relaxed pronunciation of the /gw/ sounds and in some cases loss of the /i/ sound.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

we m or f (plural wees)

  1. (colloquial) dude, guy, buddy
    Synonyms: carnal, cuate, tonto, bato
  2. (Mexico, colloquial slang) chump, punk, dumbass, idiot, jerk

Tocharian A[edit]

cardinal numbers
Previous: sas
Next: tre

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁. Compare Tocharian B wi.

Numeral[edit]

we f

  1. two

Related terms[edit]

Tok Pisin[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From English where.

Adverb[edit]

we

  1. where
This entry has fewer than three known examples of actual usage, the minimum considered necessary for clear attestation, and may not be reliable. Tok Pisin is subject to a special exemption for languages with limited documentation. If you speak it, please consider editing this entry or adding citations. See also Help and the Community Portal.

Turkmen[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

Borrowed from Persian وَ‎ (va).

Conjunction[edit]

we

  1. and

Etymology 2[edit]

Noun[edit]

we (definite accusative ?, plural ?)

  1. The name of the Latin-script letter W.

Uyghur[edit]

Noun[edit]

we

  1. Latin (ULY) transcription of ۋە‎ (we)

Vamale[edit]

Noun[edit]

we

  1. water

References[edit]

Welsh[edit]

Noun[edit]

we

  1. Soft mutation of gwe.

Mutation[edit]

Welsh mutation
radical soft nasal aspirate
gwe we ngwe unchanged
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every
possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Yuaga[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.

Noun[edit]

we

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References[edit]

  • Jim Hollyman, K. J. Hollyman, Études sur les langues du Nord de la Nouvelle-Calédonie (1999), page 81

Zulu[edit]

Pronoun[edit]

-we

  1. Combining stem of wena.
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