An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/neu
neu, adj., ‘new, fresh, modern, novel,’ from the equiv. MidHG. niuwe, niu, OHG. niuwi. Corresponding forms exist in the Teut. and Aryan group; Goth. niujis, OIc. nŷr, AS. níwe, E. new, Du. nieuw, OSax. niuwi. Teut. niuja, from pre-Teut. néuyo-, appears also in Sans. návyas (and návas), Lith. naújas (OSlov. novŭ, Lat. novus, Gr. νέος), The prim. meaning of this primit. Aryan neujo-, newo, cannot be determined with certainty; it is probably connected with the OAryan particle nū̆, ‘now,’ so what was new was regarded as ‘that which has just come into being’ (comp. nun). Its relation to the following word is very doubtful.