Motter
Central Franconian edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from German Mutter. The native form is obsolete Moder; both are from Old High German muoter, muoder, from Proto-Germanic *mōdēr, from Proto-Indo-European *méh₂tēr.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
Motter (plural Mötter or Metter, diminutive Mötterche or Metterche)
- mother
- Meng Mamm hätt sich dat net könne vürstelle, datt ich als Motter ärbeede john.
- My mother would have found it inconceivable that I should go work as a mother.
Usage notes edit
- The inflected forms with -ö- are Ripuarian, those with -e- are Moselle Franconian.
- The commoner word for “female parent” is Mamm, but Motter is common in other senses, e.g. “mother” as a position within the family. (Compare the example above.)