mỏ neo

Vietnamese

Etymology

Considering the classifier mũi (literally “nose”) used for neo, the element mỏ (“beak”) here is probably a fossilized classifier. If so, mỏ (obsolete classifier for anchor) +‎ neo (“anchor”).

Compare the element cửa (literally “door”) in cửa hàng, cửa hiệu, cửa tiệm, which also likely started as a classifier in these.

Pronunciation

  • (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [mɔ˧˩ nɛw˧˧]
  • (Huế) IPA(key): [mɔ˧˨ nɛw˧˧]
  • (Saigon) IPA(key): [mɔ˨˩˦ nɛw˧˧]

Noun

(classifier cái) mỏ neo

  1. (nautical) anchor
    Synonym: neo
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