mỏ neo

Vietnamese

Etymology

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

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [mɔ˧˩ nɛw˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [mɔ˧˨ nɛw˧˧]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [mɔ˨˩˦ nɛw˧˧]

Noun

(classifier cái) mỏ neo

1. (nautical) anchor

   Synonym: neo