we

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English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Etymology 1

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From Middle English we, from Old English (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

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Pronoun

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we (first-person plural nominative case, objective case us, possessive determiner our, possessive pronoun ours, reflexive ourselves, reflexive singular ourself)

  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 institution which the speaker/writer is acting for. (This is the editorial we, used by writers and others when speaking with the authority of their publication or organisation.)
    • 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 (the administration) propose to make the following amendments to local legislation to implement the relevant requirements on oath taking by public officers.
  4. (personal, royal) The sovereign alone in their capacity as monarch. (This is the royal we. The reflexive case of this sense of we is ourself.)
  5. (personal) The plural form of you, including everyone being addressed.
    How are we all tonight?
  6. (personal, often considered patronising) A second- or third-person pronoun for a person in the speaker's care.
    How are we feeling this morning?
  7. (colloquial) The speaker themselves, used to imply connection between the speaker's experiences and a group of listeners. (Compare the plural of modesty.)
    Hey guys, how's it going? Today we are going to be playing a new game.
    • 2021 January 6, 3:38:03 from the start, in Rally on Electoral College Vote Certification[3] (television broadcast), spoken by Donald Trump, Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network (C-SPAN):
      All Vice President [Mike] Pence has to do is send it back to the states to recertify and we become president and you are the happiest people.
    • 2021 June 24, “Far from Home” (3:07 from the start), in Alone[4], season 9, episode 4 (televison production), spoken by Theresa Emmerich Kamper, via HISTORY Channel:
      [Today is] not a day to think about fishing so we will get back to working on the shelter. [cut in video] Cool, so I guess the best analogy for this, then, is that we've basically framed the house, and now we get to shingle.
    • 2022 October 25, 32:11 from the start, Vote 2022, in Joseph Camp, director, PBS NewsHour[5] (television production), spoken by John Fetterman, via Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), archived from the original on 2022-10-25:
      The elephant in the room, you know, we had a stroke back in May.
  8. (West Country, archaic) Us.
  9. (bridge) The side which is keeping score.
    Antonym: they
Derived terms
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Descendants
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  • Jamaican Creole: wi
  • Sranan Tongo: wi
Translations
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Determiner

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we

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

Etymology 2

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(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

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Pronoun

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we

  1. (Geordie) Us.
    He was a propa gadgie, and always bought we drinks after a long shift.
    He was a great guy, and always bought us drinks after a long shift.
    And what have you done for we since? Nowt!
    And what have you done for us since? Nothing!
Usage notes
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Not to be confused with Tyneside us (me).

Anagrams

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Abinomn

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Noun

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we (dual werom, plural wekon)

  1. tree kangaroo

References

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

Anguthimri

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Noun

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we

  1. (Mpakwithi) owl

References

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

Caac

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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we

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

References

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Cameroon Pidgin

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From English we.

Pronunciation

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Pronoun

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we

  1. we, us 1st person plural subject and object personal pronoun

See also

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Determiner

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we

  1. our, 1st person plural possessive determiner

See also

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Chuukese

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Determiner

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we (plural kewe)

  1. (possessive subject marker) the (singular)

Dadibi

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Noun

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wẹ

  1. water

Synonyms

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References

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  • 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

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Etymology

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See wij.

Pronunciation

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Pronoun

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we (personal pronoun)

  1. we

Declension

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Synonyms

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Descendants

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  • Jersey Dutch:

See also

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Fijian

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Noun

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we

  1. scar

Fwâi

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we

Etymology

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

Noun

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we

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

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

Galoli

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Etymology

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Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiR.

Noun

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we

  1. (Talur) water

References

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Haeke

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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Noun

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we

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

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

Haveke

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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Noun

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we

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

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

Hmwaveke

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Etymology

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

Noun

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we

  1. water

References

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Ido

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Etymology

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From w +‎ -e.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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we (plural we-i)

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

See also

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Indonesian

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Etymology

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From Dutch wee.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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

Synonyms

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See also

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Further reading

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Jamaican Creole

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Etymology 1

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(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Conjunction

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we

  1. that
    • 2023, Yuunivorshal Deklarieshan a Yuuman Raits, United Nations, Aatikl 25:
      Uman we a mada an pikni disorv speshal kier an elp.
      Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance.
      (literally, “Women that are mothers, and children, deserve special care and help.”)

Etymology 2

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Derived from English where.

Conjunction

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we

  1. where
    • 2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Maak 14:14:
      Wen im go iina wan ous, tel di uona fi di ous se, "Di tiicha se fi aks yu se: We di ges ruum de we mi kyan nyam di Paasuova fuud wid mi speshal falara dem?"
      and when he goes into a house, ask the owner where I and my disciples can celebrate the Passover.

Further reading

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  • we at majstro.com

Japanese

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Romanization

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we

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

Jawe

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Etymology

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

Noun

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we

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

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

Kashubian

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈvɛ/
  • Rhymes:
  • Syllabification: we

Preposition

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we

  1. Alternative form of w.

Kikuyu

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Etymology 1

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Pronunciation

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Pronoun

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we (second person singular)

  1. you, thou
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  • -aku (your, thy)

Etymology 2

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Pronunciation

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Pronoun

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we (third person singular)

  1. s/he
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  • -ake (his/her)

See also

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

References

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

Laboya

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Noun

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we

  1. water

References

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  • Greenhill, S. J., Blust. R, Gray, R. D. (2008) “The Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database: From Bioinformatics to Lexomics”, in Evolutionary Bioinformatics[6], number 4, archived from the original on 18 April 2017, pages 271-283
  • Blust, Robert; Trussel, Stephen; et al. (2023) “*wahiR”, in the CLDF dataset from The Austronesian Comparative Dictionary (2010–), →DOI

Lower Sorbian

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Pronunciation

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Preposition

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we (with locative)

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

Mandarin

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Romanization

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we (we5we0, Zhuyin ˙ㄨㄝ)

  1. Hanyu Pinyin reading of

Romanization

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we

  1. Nonstandard spelling of .

Usage notes

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  • Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.

Mapudungun

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Adjective

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we (Raguileo spelling)

  1. new, recent

References

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

Middle English

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Etymology 1

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

Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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Pronoun

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

  1. First-person plural pronoun: we
  2. First-person plural accusative pronoun: us
Descendants
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See also
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References
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Etymology 2

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

Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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we (uncountable)

  1. woe, grief, sadness
References
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Middle Low German

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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

Pronoun

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

  1. (interrogative, masculine, feminine) who

Etymology 2

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From Proto-Germanic *wiz.

Pronoun

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

Nedebang

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Noun

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we

  1. blood

References

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  • 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

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Etymology

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

Noun

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we

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

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

North Ambrym

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Etymology

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From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.

Noun

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we

  1. water

Further reading

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  • 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)

North Frisian

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Etymology

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From Old Frisian , from Proto-Germanic *wīz, from Proto-Indo-European *wéy.

Pronoun

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we (Mooring)

  1. we (first-person plural personal pronoun)

Alternative forms

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See also

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Nyelâyu

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Etymology

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

Noun

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we

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

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

Old English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Proto-Germanic *wiz, *wīz, from Proto-Indo-European *wéy, plural of *éǵh₂.

Cognate with Old Frisian (West Frisian wy), Old Saxon (Low German wi), Old Dutch (Dutch wij), Old High German wir (German wir), Old Norse vér (Danish and Swedish vi), Gothic 𐍅𐌴𐌹𐍃 (weis).

Pronunciation

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Pronoun

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(personal pronoun)

  1. we (nominative plural of )

Declension

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Descendants

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Old Javanese

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *waʀi, from Proto-Austronesian *waʀi. Doublet of wari.

Noun

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we

  1. sun
  2. day
Usage notes
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Zoetmulder used Old Javanese we as primary entry for sun and day sense, while Old Javanese wwe used for water as primary entry.

Alternative forms
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Derived terms
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Descendants
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Etymology 2

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Noun

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we

  1. Alternative spelling of wwe (water)

Further reading

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  • "we" in P.J. Zoetmulder with the collaboration of S.O. Robson, Old Javanese-English Dictionary. 's-Gravenhage: M. Nijhoff, 1982.

Old Polish

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Pronunciation

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Preposition

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we

  1. Alternative form of w

Pije

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Etymology

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

Noun

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we

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

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

Polish

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Pronunciation

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Preposition

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we

  1. Alternative form of w, used mostly before words that begin with consonant clusters.

Scots

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Inherited from Middle English we, from Old English (we), from Proto-West Germanic *wiʀ, from Proto-Germanic *wīz, *wiz (we), from Proto-Indo-European *wéy (we (plural)). Cognate with English we.

Pronunciation

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Pronoun

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we

  1. we
  2. us

See also

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References

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Silesian

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈvɛ/
  • Rhymes:
  • Syllabification: we

Preposition

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we

  1. Alternative form of w, used mostly before words that begin with consonant clusters

Slovincian

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈvə/
  • Rhymes: -və
  • Syllabification: we

Preposition

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we

  1. Alternative form of w.

Further reading

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Spanish

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈwe/ [ˈwe]
  • Rhymes: -e
  • Syllabification: we

Noun

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we m or f by sense (plural wees)

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

Tocharian A

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cardinal numbers
Previous: sas
Next: tre

Etymology

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

Numeral

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we f

  1. two
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Tok Pisin

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Etymology

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From English where.

Adverb

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we

  1. where

Turkmen

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Etymology 1

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Borrowed from Persian وَ (va).

Conjunction

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we

  1. and

Etymology 2

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Noun

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we (definite accusative [please provide], plural [please provide])

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

Uyghur

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Noun

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we

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

Vamale

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Noun

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we

  1. water

References

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Welsh

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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we

  1. Soft mutation of gwe.

Mutation

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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.

West Makian

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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we

  1. leaf

References

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  • Clemens Voorhoeve (1982) The Makian languages and their neighbours[8], Pacific linguistics

Yola

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Pronoun

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we

  1. Alternative form of wough
    • 1867, CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, page 114, lines 7-9:
      and whilke we canna zei, albeit o' 'Governere,' 'Statesman,' an alike.
      and for which we have no words but of 'Governor,' 'Statesman,' &c.
    • 1867, CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, page 114, lines 21-23:
      Ye pace——yea, we mai zei, ye vaste pace whilke bee ee-stent owr ye londe zince th'ast ee-cam,
      The peace——yes, we may say the profound peace—which overspreads the land since your arrival,
    • 1867, CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, page 116, lines 6-8:
      Na oure gladès ana whilke we dellt wi' mattoke, an zing t'oure caulès wi plou,
      In our valleys where we were digging with the spade, or as we whistled to our horses in the plough,

References

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  • Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828) William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867, page 114

Yuanga

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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

Zaghawa

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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we

  1. head lice

Numeral

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we

  1. three

References

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Zulu

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Pronoun

[edit]

-we

  1. Combining stem of wena.