Etymology Explorer › Afrikaans

Where does “moet” come from?

moet (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch moeten, from Middle Dutch moeten, from Old Dutch muotan, from West Germanic *mōtan, from Proto-Germanic mōtaną, from Proto-Indo-European mōd-, from Proto-Indo-European med- — to measure; to give advice; healing.

moet (Afrikaans): must; a must

Definitions

  1. must; a must

Ancestry of “moet”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchmoetento be necessary, to be required; to have to,...
2Middle Dutchmoetento have to, must, to be obliged to; to be allowed...
3Old Dutchmuotancan, to be able to; must, to have to
4West Germanic*mōtan—
5Proto-Germanicmōtanąto be allowed, to be permitted to, may
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmōd-to permit, make able
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmed-to measure; to give advice; healing
Every word from Proto-Indo-European med- →