ENGLISH
REFERENCE

MOI

pron.
C1 Advanced US //ˈmwɑ// UK //mwˈɑː// moi Humorous

pron. the French word for 'me', used in English to sound funny or pretend you are shocked. You use it when someone suggests you did something wrong or selfish.

pron. the French first-person singular stressed pronoun, used in English as a humorous or ironic interjection. Typically employed to feign innocence or mock-indignation when one's motives or actions are questioned.


SIMPLE

You think I ate the last cookie? Moi?

CONTEXTUAL

When the manager asked who had left the office lights on all night, Sarah simply batted her eyelashes and whispered moi.

COMPLEX

The word is frequently used in a camp or exaggerated manner to deflect criticism, adopting a persona of faux-sophistication that signals the speaker is not taking the accusation seriously.

Usage

Used as a standalone interjection or a one-word question; always retains its French spelling and pronunciation.

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