Etymologically
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nu

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Pronunciation

Forms

nu[1] The colloquial form nou is recorded from 1313.[2] It has ⟨ou⟩ from West Germanic û at the end of a word, while nu is native to the south-west, where that vowel was fronted but not diphthongised.[3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch nû, inherited from Old Dutch nū, inherited from Proto-Germanic *nu.[2][1][4] 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 (modern Swedish nu) and Gothic 𐌽𐌿 (nu).[2][5][6]

It is inherited from Proto-Indo-European *nu (“now”), which is also found in Latin nunc (“now”) and the first part of nudius tertius (“the day before yesterday”), Ancient Greek νῦν (nûn), Sanskrit नु (nú), Avestan nū and Hittite nu.[2][6][1] In some of these languages it also means “only” or “just”.[2] The adjective nieuw is a derivative of the same word, and nog probably is too.[2][5][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The adverb is recorded in the Wachtendonck Psalms of the 10th century, in ende nu kununga fornemt “and now, kings, understand” and untes nu “until now”.[2][8] As a conjunction, “since”, it first appears in Middle Dutch of 1201–1225.[2]

Semantic evolution

In Old Dutch nū meant “now, at this time”, often weakened to an urging particle before an imperative, and it could answer a clause introduced by nu “now that”.[8] Middle Dutch set phrases included nu ende echt “now and later, always” and nu no echt “never”.[9]

The Brabant form nou became the ordinary spoken form in much of the northern Netherlands, but writing kept nu until well into the 20th century, except when it reproduced speech.[2] In present-day Netherlands Dutch nu is used for time and for the conjunction “since”, and nou for most other uses, in which the sense of time has faded or gone.[2] The interjection nou is recorded from 1714.[2][7]

The word lives on in Negerhollands nu and noe and in Skepi Dutch nou, and Sranan has nownow “at the moment”.[10][1]

Timeline

  • 901–1000 – Nu appears in the Wachtendonck Psalms.[2][11][8]
  • 1201–1225 – Middle Dutch nu is used as a conjunction, “since”.[2]
  • 1220–1240 – The Middle Dutch adverb is recorded.[2]
  • 1313 – The form nou appears, in nou ende immermeer “now and evermore”.[2]
  • 1616 – Hoe hebben wy 't nou? expresses annoyance.[2][7]
  • 1714 – Nou is used as an interjection.[2][7]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. At this moment, now: Ik moet nu naar huis.[12][1]
  2. At a particular moment, in a story or in the past.[12]
  3. (formal) Continuing a story or an argument: Nu woonde er in die stad een rijke weduwe.[12]
  4. Expressing impatience: Schiet nu eens op![1]

Conjunction

  1. Now that, since: Nu het donker is, gaan we naar binnen.[1][2]

Noun

  1. (het nu) The present moment: in het hier en nu.[12][1]

Usage notes

Zo nu en dan means “now and then”, and tot nu toe “so far”.[12] The name of the Greek letter ν, nu (plural nu's), was taken from Greek.[13][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 r 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. ^ Haeringen, C. B. van (1936), Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal: Supplement, 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
  4. ^ Vries, Jan de; Tollenaere, Félicien de (2004), Etymologisch woordenboek: onze woorden, hun oorsprong en ontwikkeling, 23rd ed., Utrecht: Het Spectrum, p. 266
  5. ^ a b Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
  6. ^ a b Orel, Vladimir (2003), A Handbook of Germanic Etymology, Leiden / Boston: Brill
  7. ^ a b c d 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
  8. ^ a b c Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org
  9. ^ Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
  10. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
  11. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
  12. ^ a b c d e Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
  13. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2005), Groot leenwoordenboek, Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale