Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *nemaną, probably from Proto-Indo-European *nem- ‎(“take”).

Germanic cognates include Old Saxon niman, Old Dutch neman (Dutch nemen), Old High German neman (German nehmen), Old Norse nema (Danish nemme), Gothic 𐌽𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌽 ‎(niman). The Indo-European root was also the source of Old Irish nem ‎(“present”), Latvian ņemt ‎(“to take”), Albanian nëm ‎(“to take, curse”), Ancient Greek νέμω ‎(némō).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnimɑn/