nou

Forms

nou^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch nou, a variant of nu, inherited from Old Dutch nu, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *nū, inherited from Proto-Germanic *nu (“now”).^[2][1][3] The same word is Old Saxon nū, Old High German nū (modern German nun), Old Frisian nū (modern West Frisian no), Old English nū (modern English now), Old Norse nú and Gothic 𐌽𐌿 (nu).^[2][4][5] It continues Proto-Indo-European *nu (“now”), the source also of Latin nunc, Ancient Greek νῦν (nûn), Sanskrit नु (nú) and Lithuanian nù; in some languages the word also means “only” or “just”.^[2][4][1] The adjective nieuw is related.^[2][3][6]

The form with ⟨ou⟩ came from Brabant.^[2] De Vries explains it as a dialect pronunciation that probably arose before vowels, from ⟨nû(w)⟩.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The base form nu is Old Dutch, first in the 10th-century Wachtendonck Psalms: ende nu kununga fornemt “and now, kings, understand”.^[2][7] The spelling nou is first recorded in 1313, in nou ende immermeer “now and for evermore”, and a text of 1351 has nou wilic jou gaen scriven “now I will write to you”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Nou became the usual form of the word in the popular speech of much of the Netherlands, but writers kept to nu until well into the 20th century, except when they reproduced speech.^[2] By 1616 it was used in a cry of annoyance, hoe hebben wy 't nou? “what is this now?”, and in 1714 as an interjection opening a sentence.^[2][6]

When and how far the spelling pronunciation of nu spread cannot be traced; in today's spoken and informal written Dutch of the Netherlands, nu is used for time and for “since”, and nou in most other uses, where the sense of time has faded or gone.^[2] The interjection travelled to Negerhollands (noe, nou), Berbice Dutch (nau), Skepi Dutch and Petjo (ai-nou “come on”), and Caribbean Javanese took na as a particle of emphasis;^[8][1] Afrikaans has nou.^[8][1]

Timeline

• 901–1000 – Old Dutch nu in the Wachtendonck Psalms.^[2][7]
• 1313 – The form nou, in nou ende immermeer.^[2]
• 1351 – Nou wilic jou gaen scriven.^[2]
• 1616 – Hoe hebben wy 't nou?, a cry of annoyance.^[2][6]
• 1617 – Maer nou is hy ouwt en doof “but now he is old and deaf”.^[2][6]
• 1714 – Nou as an interjection.^[2][6]

Meanings

Adverb

1. (informal) now, at present; the same as nu: Waar woon je nou?^[9][1][10]
2. (informal) A modal particle of urgency or impatience: Kom nou maar!^[1]
3. (informal) A particle marking contrast or disbelief: Dat is nou niet bepaald slim.^[1]

Conjunction

1. (informal) Now that, since.^[9]

Interjection

1. Well; opening a reply, often with doubt: Nou, ik weet het niet.^[1]
2. Expressing surprise or indignation: Nou, nou!^[1][10]

Related words

• nu
• nieuw
• English now
• German nun

Usage notes

In the standard written language nu is preferred for “at this moment” and “since”, while nou belongs to speech and to its other uses.^[2] Nou vraag ik je! expresses amazed indignation.^[9] In Jewish Dutch noh, nòh or nou expressed hesitation or contempt, after Yiddish.^[11]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; Sijs, Nicoline van der (2003–2009), Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, 4 vols., Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press; online via etymologiebank.nl
3. ^ a b Veen, P. A. F. van; Sijs, Nicoline van der (1997), Etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van onze woorden, 2nd ed., Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Lexicografie
4. ^ a b Orel, Vladimir (2003), A Handbook of Germanic Etymology, Leiden / Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
6. ^ a b c d e Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
7. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
8. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
9. ^ a b c Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
10. ^ a b WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org
11. ^ Kamp, Jacob van de; Wijk, Jacob van der (2006), Koosjer Nederlands: Joodse woorden in de Nederlandse taal, Amsterdam: Contact