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må, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
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Cimbrian
Etymology
From Middle High German māne, from Old High German māno (“moon”). Cognate with German Mond.
Noun
må m
- (Luserna) moon
References
Danish
Pronunciation
Verb
må
- present of måtte
Norwegian Bokmål
Verb
må
- present of måtte
Norwegian Nynorsk
Etymology
From Old Norse má, present tense 1st and 3rd persons singular of mega.
Verb
må
- present tense of måtta and måtte
Verb
må (present tense mår, past tense mådde, past participle mått/mådd, passive infinitive måast, present participle måande, imperative må)
- (transitive) to wield
- used in the expression må i von.
References
- “må” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.
Swedish
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
Apocopic form of måga, from Old Swedish magha, from Old Norse mega, from Proto-Germanic *maganą, from Proto-Indo-European *(me)mógʰe, from root *megʰ-.
Verb
må (present må, preterite måtte)
- (often solemn like in English outside idiomatic phrases) may
Ja, må hon leva uti hundrade år!- Yes, may she live a hundred years! (birthday congratulation song)
1885, Carl G. Starbäck, Per O. Bäcström, Berättelser ur svenska historien, Fjerde bandet. Gustaf II Adolf, Konungen tager afsked af ständerna, page 276:[…] önskandes att vi efter detta usla och mödosamma lifvet efter Guds behag måga finnas och möta hvarandra i det himmelska och oförgängliga hos Gud oss beredda lifvet och glädjen.- wishing that we after this sad and arduous life, following God's will may find and meet each other in the heavenly and imperishable, by God for us, prepared life and joy.
1915, Dan Andersson, Kolvaktarens Visor, I timmerkojan på Sami:Aldrig må vi kalla vårt öde hårt,
vi som äga värme och föda!
Många äro utan och hava det svårt -
fridsammast hava de döda.
- Never may we call our destiny hard,
we who own warmth and food!
Many are without and have it hard -
most peaceful have the dead.
1972, “Omkring tiggarn [tiggaren] från Luossa [Around the beggar from Luossa]”, in Dan Andersson (lyrics), Gunde Johansson (music), Våra vackraste visor Vol. 2 [Our most beautiful songs Vol. 2], performed by Hootenanny Singers:Må de svarta, salta vatten svalka kinder feberröda. Må vi vara mil från livet innan morgonen är full. Ej av denna världen var jag och oändlig vedermöda led jag för min oro, otro och min heta kärleks skull.- May the black, salty waters cool cheeks feverishly red. May we be miles from life before the morning is full. Not of this world I was and endless hardship I suffered for my anxiousness , unbelief and my hot love's sake.
- (dated) must (can be assumed to)
- Synonym: måste
Han måtte ha dåligt minne- He must have a bad memory
Conjugation
Conjugation of må (irregular)
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Active
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Passive
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Infinitive
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må
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—
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Supine
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—
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—
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Imperative
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—
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—
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Imper. plural1
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—
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—
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Present
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Past
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Present
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Past
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Indicative
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må
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måtte
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—
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—
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Ind. plural1
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må
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måtte
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—
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—
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Subjunctive2
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må
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måtte
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—
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—
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Participles
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Present participle
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—
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Past participle
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—
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1 Archaic. 2 Dated. See the appendix on Swedish verbs.
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Conjugation of
måga (irregular, archaic)
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Active
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Passive
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Infinitive
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måga
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—
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Supine
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—
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—
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Imperative
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—
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—
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Imper. plural1
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—
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—
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Present
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Past
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Present
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Past
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Indicative
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må
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måtte
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—
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—
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Ind. plural1
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måga
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måtte
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—
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—
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Subjunctive2
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måge
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måtte
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—
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—
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Participles
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Present participle
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—
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Past participle
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—
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1 Archaic. 2 Dated. See the appendix on Swedish verbs.
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Etymology 2
It has developed from the former verb.
Verb
må (present mår, preterite mådde, supine mått, imperative må)
- to feel (good or bad), to be (ill or well)
Jag mår bra. Hur mår du?- I am fine. How are you?
Den polska hären led oerhördt af den stränga vintern, under det svenskarne mådde som pärlor i guld. (archaic language and spelling)- The Polish army suffered enormously from the strong winter cold, while the Swedes felt like pearls in gold.
Conjugation
Derived terms
References
Anagrams
Walloon
Pronunciation
Adverb
må
- badly, poorly