Etymology

From Middle High German vormunde, from Old High German foramunto, a compound of fora (“before, in front of”, whence German vor) + munt ‎(“hand; protection; guardianship”). In contemporary understandig typically reanalyzed as vor +‎ Mund (“mouth”, unrelated with the former word), thus “who speaks in someone’s stead (or: before they can speak for themselves)”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfoːɐ̯ˌmʊnt/, /ˈfɔɐ̯ˌmʊnt/