mỏ neo
Vietnamese edit
Etymology edit
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 edit
- (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [mɔ˧˩ nɛw˧˧]
- (Huế) IPA(key): [mɔ˧˨ nɛw˧˧]
- (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA(key): [mɔ˨˩˦ nɛw˧˧]