Dutch

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Etymology

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Variant of oude with weakened -d-; compare gouwe, veehouwer, parelmoer.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈɑu̯ə/
  • Audio:(file)

Adjective

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ouwe

  1. (informal) inflection of oud:
    1. masculine/feminine singular attributive
    2. definite neuter singular attributive
    3. plural attributive

Noun

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ouwe m (plural ouwen, diminutive oudje n)

  1. (informal) man, mate
    Bedankt, ouwe!Thanks, mate!
  2. (informal) father, old man
    Weet je zeker dat je ouwe dit goedvindt?Are you sure your old man approves of this?

Middle English

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Noun

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ouwe

  1. Alternative form of ewe

Middle High German

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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From Old High German ouwa, from Proto-West Germanic *auwju.

Noun

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ouwe f (genitive singular ouwen or ouwe, plural ouwen or ouwe)

  1. stream, current of water
    Synonym: stroum
  2. land by the water
    1. island
      Synonyms: i(n)sele, ei(n)lant, wert
    2. wetland, wet meadow

Etymology 2

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From Old High German ou, from Proto-West Germanic *awi.

Noun

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ouwe f (genitive singular ouwe, plural ouwe)

  1. (becoming rare) ewe, female sheep