Moin
/mɔɪ̯n/noun
A North German greeting meaning “hello” or “good day,” used at any time of day.
Did you know?Although often explained as a shortened form of “morning,” many linguists connect Moin instead with Low German moi, meaning “pleasant” or “good,” so its true origin remains debated.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic (possible connection)
Proto-Germanic
*murginaz
“Morning; the early part of the day”
Old English
Old English
morgen
“Morning or dawn”
Middle Low German
Middle Low German
moi
“Pleasant, agreeable, or good”
19th–20th Century
Low German
Moin
“A regional greeting, likely associated with “good” or possibly shortened from “morning””
Modern English
English loanword
Moin
“A North German hello or good-day greeting”