“Moot” is an adjective, a noun and a verb. First, as a verb.
If a mortal “moots” something, he is introducing, suggesting or presenting a point for discussion or debate. Some examples:
- Mr. Podemos has mooted the possibility of living (…ha discutido la posibilidad de vivir…) in North Korea.
- Mr. Sánchez has mooted a substantial rise in taxes for everyman and his dog (un dicho = todo el mundo).
- It has been mooted (se ha sugerido) that the political party PSOE is divided on important issues.
- I moot that white sugar is poison for your body.
So, if you are preparing for the Cambridge Advanced English exam, instead of saying “I propose that”, “I posit that” (postulo que) or “I suggest that”, an option would be “I moot that”.
Now as an adjective. Some examples:
- That is a moot point (asunto discutible o cuestión polemica) or “that issue is moot”. Or that is a matter of conjecture.
- The issue of higher taxes in Spain is becoming a moot point (…esta convirtiendo en algo discutible).
Now as a noun. A moot (junta, asamblea) is a group of people which has political, administrative or judicial powers. A moot is also an argument or discusision, usually in a legal context.
So, no doubt you have mooted many things, which makes you a mooter. You may have attended a moot and mooted political issues, and raised issues using the phrase “I moot that”. You may have asked mortals a question: what do you moot?
Something can be a “moot point” or a “moot question”. This means that it is debatable (discutible).
So, in the Cambridge exams, the speaking part, you could respond to a discussion point by saying “that is a moot point”. It could also be a polite way to say “I disagree”. A similar phrase might be “that is a matter of conjecture”. Or “that is questionable” (cuestionable).
Now as a verb. Examine these:
- What do you moot (= what do you opine = ¿qué opina usted?)? This is similar to “what is your point of view? Or what do you suggest?
- It has been mooted that Mr. Podemos will be the new ambassador to North Korea (…se ha sugerido que…).
- The question of Mr. Podemos being the next ambassador to North Korea was first mooted in February 2021 (…se discutió la cuestión por primera vez en febrero 2021).
There are also, “moot courts” (tribunales ficticios). An example might be where students practice legal issues.
So, many times in your life you will have mooted things.
