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Afrikaans

Etymology

From Dutch neef, from Middle Dutch nēve, from Old Dutch *nefo, nevo, from Proto-West Germanic *nefō, from Proto-Germanic *nefô, from Proto-Indo-European *népōts.

Pronunciation

  • Audio:(file)

Noun

neef (plural neefs)

  1. nephew
  2. (male) cousin

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch nēve, from Old Dutch *nefo, nevo, from Proto-West Germanic *nefō, from Proto-Germanic *nefô, from Proto-Indo-European *népōts. Doublet of niffo.

Pronunciation

Noun

neef m (plural neven, diminutive neefje n, feminine nicht)

  1. male cousin
    Mijn neef woont in België en we bezoeken hem elk jaar.My male cousin lives in Belgium and we visit him every year.
    Tijdens familiereünies zie ik al mijn neven.During family reunions, I see all my male cousins.
  2. nephew
    Ik kocht een cadeau voor mijn neefje zijn verjaardag.I bought a gift for my nephew's birthday.
    Mijn zus heeft twee zoons, dus ik heb twee neven.My sister has two sons, so I have two nephews.

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Afrikaans: neef
  • Papiamentu: neefie (dated)
  • Sranan Tongo: nefo, neifo
  • West Frisian: neef

West Frisian

Etymology

Borrowed from Dutch neef.

Noun

neef c (plural neven, diminutive neefke)

  1. male cousin
    Coordinate term: nicht
  2. mosquito

Further reading

  • neef”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011