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Ni - vi

While I was learning Swedish and Esperanto courses on Duolingo, I noticed how they have opposite meanings for words ni and vi.

So I had to look etymology of them on Wiktionary.

Swedish

ni = you (pl.)

From verb suffix -(e)n with pronoun I. From Old-Swedish ī, ir.
I is an archaic form of you. Also in Danish I is still used.

vi = we

From Old Swedish vīr, which comes from Old Norse vér.
Compare also to Norwegian vi, Danish vi, German wir and English we.

Esperanto

ni = we

Originating in romance languages - Italian noi, Spanish nos, French nous and Latin nos.

vi = you (pl.)

Originating in French vous and Italian voi or Russian вы (vy).

Dankon Duolingo kaj Wiktionary!

Sources:

Tags: #languages #duolingo #swedish #esperanto #etymology

TvK

IT and languages. Feel free to be a grammar-nazi and correct my English (or any other language).

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