oom

Etymology

Borrowed from Afrikaans oom. Doublet of eam.

Pronunciation

• (General South African) IPA^(key): /ʊəm/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ʊm/

Noun

oom (plural ooms)

1. (South Africa) An older man, especially an uncle. (Frequently as a respectful form of address.) [from 19th c.]
   • 1979, André Brink, A Dry White Season, Vintage 1998, p. 73:

     He raised his glass. ‘Here's to you, Oom Ben,’ he said. ‘Give them hell.’

Anagrams

• MOO, Moo, moo, omo-

Etymology

From Dutch oom, from Middle Dutch oom, from Old Dutch *ōm, from Proto-Germanic *awahaimaz (“maternal uncle”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /oəm/

Noun

oom (plural ooms, diminutive oompie)

1. uncle

Etymology

From Middle Dutch oom, from Old Dutch *ōm, from Proto-Germanic *awahaimaz (“maternal uncle”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /oːm/
• Rhymes: -oːm

• audio

  (file)

Noun

oom m (plural ooms, diminutive oompje n)

1. uncle

Etymology

From Old Dutch *ōm, from Proto-Germanic *awahaimaz (“maternal uncle”).

Noun

ôom m

1. uncle, brother of one's parent (originally specifically one's mother)

Further reading

• “oom”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• “oom”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, 1929

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔːm/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

oom

1. knee