Ledder

Ledder f (plural Leddere, diminutive Ledderche)

From Middle High German leiter, from Old High German *hleidara, northern variant of hleitara, from Proto-West Germanic *hlaidriju.

Leeder

western Moselle Franconian; central and eastern Ripuarian except Kölsch

Lääder

eastern Moselle Franconian except Westerwald


Röggelche

Diminutive of extinct *Rock (“rye”), for which Central Franconian uses Koon.


Röggelche

(Ripuarian) diminutive of Rögge (“back”)


Rögge

head

Rögge m (plural Rögge, diminutive Röggelche)

From Old High German ruggi, from Proto-Germanic *hrugjaz.

Manchmol sinn ich uns hück noch stonn
 Op der Südbröck mem Rögge noh Bonn,
 Un ich frooch mich: Wore mir einfach ze jong?

Sometimes I still see us standing there today
 On the South Bridge with our backs towards Bonn [i.e. facing Cologne],
 And I wonder: Were we simply too young?


Koon

Koon n (plural Kööner, diminutive Köönche)

From Old High German korn, from Proto-West Germanic *korn, from Proto-Germanic *kurną, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵr̥h₂nóm.

(Ripuarian, countable) grain; seed; particle; small object


Booch

Booch n (plural Bööcher or Beecher, diminutive Bööchelche or Beechelche)

Bööcher (plural)
Beecher (plural)
Bööchelche (diminutive)
Beechelche (diminutive)

Der Pitter well Abitur maache? Dä hät doch em Levve noch kee Booch en de Häng jekräje!

Peter wants to get a university-entrance diploma? He hasn’t got his hands on a book in all his life!

(Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian) book


Booch

(Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian) beech (tree)


dürve

dürve (third-person singular present darf, past tense durf, past participle jedurf)

darf (present singular third-person)
durf (past)
jedurf (participle past)

From Old High German durfan, from Proto-Germanic *þurbaną, from Proto-Indo-European *tetórpe.

Ich verzällen der jet, dat darfs de ävver keenem weggersage!

I’m telling you something, but you may not pass it on to anyone else!

Darf dat dat? – Dat darf dat. – ...datt dat dat darf!
May she do that? – She may. – ...that she may do that!


am Eng

(most dialects of Ripuarian) in the end; finally


hüre

hüre (third-person singular present hürt or hööt, past tense hurt or hoot, past participle jehurt or jehoot or jehürt or jehööt)

hürt (present singular third-person)
hööt (present singular third-person)
hurt (past)
hoot (past)
jehurt (participle past)
jehoot (participle past)
jehürt (participle past)
jehööt (participle past)


jesonk

jesonk (masculine jesonge, feminine jesong, comparative jesönger, comparative et jesönkste)

jesonge (masculine)
jesong (feminine)
jesönger (comparative)
et jesönkste (comparative)

From Middle High German gesunt, from Old High German *gisund, northern variant of gisunt.

(Ripuarian, now chiefly western dialects) healthy


Enk

From Old High German (*)endi, northern variant of enti, with Ripuarian velarisation. The final -k is unetymological and due to analogy.


jesond

jesond (masculine jesonne or jesonde, feminine and plural jesonn or jesond or jesonde, comparative jesonner or jesonder or jesönner or jesönder, superlative et jesondste or jesöndste)

jesonne (masculine)
jesonde (masculine)
jesonn (feminine plural)
jesond (feminine plural)
jesonde (feminine plural)
jesonner (comparative)
jesonder (comparative)
jesönner (comparative)
jesönder (comparative)
et jesondste (superlative)
jesöndste (superlative)

From Old High German *gisund, northern variant of gisunt, from Proto-Germanic *gasundaz.


trecke

trecke (third-person singular present trick or treck, past tense trok, past participle jetrocke)

trick (present singular third-person)
treck (present singular third-person)
trok (past)
jetrocke (participle past)

Compare Dutch trekken, German Low German trecken.

Denn wenn et Trömmelche jeiht, dann stonn mer all parat,
 Un mer trecke durch de Stadt,
 Un jeder hät jesat: Kölle alaaf, alaaf! Kölle alaaf!

1993, “Denn wenn et Trömmelche jeiht”performed by Räuber:

For when the drums are playing, we're all there and ready,
 And we march through the city,
 And everyone said: Cologne hurrah, hurrah! Cologne hurrah!


schänge

schänge (third-person singular present schängk, past participle jeschand or jeschangk)

schängk (present singular third-person)
jeschand (participle past)
jeschangk (participle past)

From Middle High German schenden, from Old High German *skenden, northern variant of *skenten, from Proto-West Germanic *skandijan, with Ripuarian velarization. Cognate with German schänden (“dishonour”).

(most dialects of Ripuarian) to scold; to rebuke; to rail; to complain


Stöck

Stöck n (plural Stöcker or Stöck, diminutive Stöckelche)

Stöcker (plural)
Stöck (plural)
Stöckelche (diminutive)

From Middle High German stücke, from Old High German stucki, from Proto-West Germanic *stukkī.

(Ripuarian, plural Stöck or Stöcker) general counter word, usually not translated in English


Stöck

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.


schödde

head

schödde (third-person singular present schött, preterite (rare) schott, past participle jeschott)

schött (present singular third-person)
schott (preterite rare)
jeschott (participle past)

From Old High German *scudden, northern variant of scutten. Cognate with German schütten.


rääne

rääne (third-person singular present räänt, past participle jeräänt or geräänt)

räänt (present singular third-person)
jeräänt (participle past)
geräänt (participle past)


benge

benge (third-person singular present bengk, past tense bong, past participle jebonge)

bengk (present singular third-person)
tense bong (past)
jebonge (participle past)

From Old High German *bindan, northern variant of bintan, with Ripuarian velarization.


Fonz

Fonz f (plural Fonze, diminutive Fönzje)

Probably related with German Fotze, Dutch vot, and hence a doublet of Central Franconian Fott (“butt, arse”). The -n- may be due to mere sporadic nasalisation, but may also stem from Old High German funs (“willing, eager, excited”). Compare Old English fūs.

inh

(chiefly Ripuarian, vulgar) pussy; vulva


Prumm

head

Prumm f (plural Prumme, diminutive Prümmche)

From Old High German *prūma, a northern variant of pfrūma. Compare Dutch pruim, German Pflaume. The sense “vulva” derives from a certain outward resemblance, as might be understood by comparing the yellow plum in the picture at the side.

(Ripuarian) plum; usually restricted to the round, firm sorts; sometimes including longer, softer sorts


Peng

From Old High German pīna, from Latin poena.

Saach mer drei Saache, die wiehdonn! — ? — Meng Peng, deng Peng on em Schäng seng Peng.

Tell me three things that hurt! — ? — My pain, your pain, and John’s pain, too. (Humorous example of “Ripuarian Chinese”.)


schrieve

schrieve (third-person singular present schriev, past tense schrevv, past participle jeschrevve)

schriev (present singular third-person)
schrevv (past)
jeschrevve (participle past)

From Old High German *scrīvan, northern variant of scrīban, from Proto-Germanic *skrībaną, from Latin scrībō. Compare German schreiben, Dutch schrijven, English shrive.

Ich hann däne jeschrevve, datt se vo’ mir keene Penning krijje.

I’ve written them that they won’t see a penny from me.


beeje

beeje (third-person singular present büch or beecht, past tense boch, past participle jeboge or geboge)

büch (present singular third-person)
beecht (present singular third-person)
boch (past)
jeboge (participle past)
geboge (participle past)

(Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian, transitive) to bend

Et jitt Saache, die sich loße beeje, on Saache, die kapottbrääche.

There are things that can be bent, and things that break in two.


fleeje

fleeje (third-person singular present flüch or fleecht, past tense floch or flooch, past participle jefloge or gefloge)

flüch (present singular third-person)
fleecht (present singular third-person)
floch (past)
flooch (past)
jefloge (participle past)
gefloge (participle past)

From Old High German fliogan, from Proto-Germanic *fleuganą, from Proto-Indo-European *plewk-.

Em Wenter fleeje de drüjje Bläder en der Loff eröm.

In the winter the dry leaves are flying around in the air. (One of the Wenker-phrases)

(Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian) to fly


mannich

mannich (masculine manche or mannije, feminine mannich)

manche (masculine)
mannije (masculine)
mannich (feminine)

From Middle High German manec, from Old High German manag.

Mannich Löck ha’ mieh Jlöck wie ander.

(many dialects, in the singular) many a(n)


drüch

drüch (masculine drüjje or drühe, feminine drüch or drüh, comparative drüjjer or drüher, superlative et drüchste)

drüjje (masculine)
drühe (masculine)
drüch (feminine)
drüh (feminine)
drüjjer (comparative)
drüher (comparative)
et drüchste (superlative)

From Middle High German drǖge, from northern Old High German *drūgi (attested in the dative plural drūgon), from Proto-Germanic *drūgiz.
Immediately cognate with Middle Dutch drughe (Limburgish druug) and probably Old English drȳġe (modern English dry). Also related with modern Dutch droog, Low German dröög, German trocken.

Dat Brut maach ich net, dat es mer ze drüch.

I don’t like that bread, it’s too dry for me.

dreche

southernmost Moselle Franconian; conflated with another Old High German word


liehne

liehne (third-person singular present liehnt, past participle jeliehnt or geliehnt)

liehnt (present singular third-person)
jeliehnt (participle past)
geliehnt (participle past)

From Old High German lēhanōn, from Proto-Germanic *laihnōną (“to lend”), from *laihną (“loan”). Compare Dutch lenen, archaic German lehnen.

Wann de dat hann wells, dann liehnen ich et dir.

If you want that thing, I’ll lend it to you.

(Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian) to lend; to loan

Kann ich mer bei dir evvens foffzig Cent liehne?

Can I just quickly borrow fifty cents from you?

(same regions, usually with reflexive dative) to borrow


Frönd

Frönd m (plural Frönn or Frönde, diminutive Fröndche)

Frönn (plural)
Frönde (plural)
Fröndche (diminutive)

Hunsrik: Freind

Luxembourgish: Frënd

From Middle High German vriunt, from Old High German friunt, from Proto-West Germanic *friund, from Proto-Germanic *frijōndz, from *frijōną, from Proto-Indo-European *priHós, from *preyH- + *-ós. The forms with -ö- (and Moselle Franconian -e-) imply a rather early shortening of the vowel.

etymon

Hä es ene jode Frönd vo’ mir.
He’s a good friend of mine.


Jaade

head

Jaade m (plural Jääde or Jaade or Jaadens, diminutive Jäätche)

Jääde (plural)
Jaade (plural)
Jaadens (plural)
Jäätche (diminutive)

Hunsrik: Gaarde

Luxembourgish: Gaart

From Middle High German *garde, northern variant of garte, from Proto-Germanic *gardô.

Der Pitter litt em Jaade.


Pääd

Pääd n (plural Pääd, diminutive Päädche)

From Old High German *perit, northern variant of pfarifrit, from Latin paraverēdus.

Häs de ald ens op enem Pääd jesäße?

Hondertfoffzig Mann un en Fahn vürrendraan,
 Un de Musik fängk mem Schneewalzer aan.
 En ener Kutsch met zwei Pääd setz der Künning dren un sät:
 „Piff, paff, der Vuggel moss erav!“
 Jrön, jrön, jrön steiht dä Schötzejonge schön!

1982, “Schötzefess”performed by Bläck Fööss:

A hundred and fifty men and a flag up front,
 And the band plays the Schneewalzer.
 In a carriage with two horses sits the Schützenfest champion and says:
 „Boom, bang, the bird must fall!“
 Green, green, green looks nice on the riflemen!


Ohs

Ohs m (plural Ohße, diminutive Öhsje or Ähsche)

Ohße (plural)
Öhsje (diminutive)
Ähsche (diminutive)

Hunsrik: Ochs

Luxembourgish: Uess

From Middle High German ohse, from Old High German ohso, from Proto-West Germanic *ohsō, from Proto-Germanic *uhsô, from Proto-Indo-European *uksḗn.

etymon

(Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian) ox (castrated male bovine animal)

(Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian) bull (any male bovine animal)


fass

head

fass (masculine faste, feminine and plural faste or fass, comparative faster, superlative et miets fass)

faste (masculine)
faste (feminine plural)
fass (feminine plural)
faster (comparative)
et miets fass (superlative)

From Middle High German fast, from Old High German fast, from Proto-West Germanic *fast.


Bruut

(westernmost and northernmost Ripuarian) bride


Ferke

Ferke n (plural Ferke, diminutive Ferkelche)

Cognate with Dutch varken. This is generally regarded an original diminutive, in which case we expect Central Franconian *Ferche. However, if the word had been contracted early on, the cluster -rk- would have remained unshifted. Compare German Ferkel, whose -k- has been considered secondary and irregular, but might be due to the same reason. Alternatively, the Ripuarian form could be an unshifted relict (compare söke, etc.).


hallev

hallev (masculine halve, feminine and plural hallev or halve, not comparable)

halve (masculine)
hallev (feminine plural)
halve (feminine plural)

From Old High German half, northern variant of halb, from Proto-Germanic *halbaz.

Doch dat, wat dann kom,
 Dat schlooch mich völlig us de Schluffe.
 Sujet hatt ich noch nie jehoot.
 Hä singk „Ich ben ne kölsche Jong“,
 Die halve Hall fängk aan ze kriesche.
 Dat braht mich janz us em Fassong.

2014, “Ich han dä Millowitsch jesinn”performed by Kuhl un de Gäng:

But what came then
 Swept me entirely off my feet.
 Something like that I'd never heard.
 He sings „I'm a Colognian boy“,
 Half the hall starts crying.
 It put me totally out of countenance.


jäl

jäl (masculine jäle, feminine jäl, comparative jäler, superlative et jälste)

jäle (masculine)
jäl (feminine)
jäler (comparative)
et jälste (superlative)


bloh

bloh (masculine blohe, feminine bloh, comparative bloher, superlative et blohste)

blohe (masculine)
bloh (feminine)
bloher (comparative)
et blohste (superlative)


wieß

wieß (masculine wieße, feminine and plural wieße or wieß, comparative wießer, superlative et wießte)

wieße (masculine)
wieße (feminine plural)
wieß (feminine plural)
wießer (comparative)
et wießte (superlative)

From Old High German wīz, from Proto-Germanic *hwītaz.

E wieß Blatt Papier, ne Bleisteff, Jedanke bei dir setz ich
 Am Finster un hür, wat sich avspillt vür der Dür, bes ich
 Avrötsch en die Zick, en där et dich für mich nit jov
 Un mir mi Levve, vürm Daach X, op eimol vürkütt wie en Strof.

1982, “Do kanns zaubere”performed by BAP:

A white sheet of paper, a pencil, thinking of you, I'm sitting
 By the window, listening to what is going on outside the door, until I
 Slide back into that time when you didn't exist for me,
 And in which my life, before D-Day, suddenly appears to me like a punishment.


schwatz

schwatz (masculine schwatze, feminine and plural schwatze or schwatz, comparative schwatzer, superlative et schwatzte)

schwatze (masculine)
schwatze (feminine plural)
schwatz (feminine plural)
schwatzer (comparative)
et schwatzte (superlative)

From Old High German swarz, from Proto-West Germanic *swart, from Proto-Germanic *swartaz, from Proto-Indo-European *swordo- (“dirty, dark, black”).


jries

head

jries (masculine jriese, feminine and plural jries or jriese, comparative jrieser, superlative et jrieste)

jriese (masculine)
jries (feminine plural)
jriese (feminine plural)
jrieser (comparative)
et jrieste (superlative)

From Middle High German grīs, from Old High German grīs, overall a rare word, but probably common in the northernmost dialects, from Proto-West Germanic *grīs (“gray”). Cognate with Dutch grijs, German greis (“aged”).

Dröck dich jet hee, jöck dich jet do,
 Un kriss de langsam jriese Hoor...
 Für alles hät hä jet parat.
 Ich hann et sellevs schon metjemaht!

1975, “Dr. Pillemann”performed by Bläck Fööss:

Does anything pinch you here or itch you there,
 And is your hair slowly getting grey...
 He has something for everything.
 I’ve already tried it myself!

(Ripuarian) grey; especially of hair, but also in a general sense

groo

in Moselle Franconian commonly only this word


Vuggel

Vuggel (plural Vüjjel or Vijjel, diminutive Vüjjelche or Vijjelche)

Vüjjel (plural)
Vijjel (plural)
Vüjjelche (diminutive)
Vijjelche (diminutive)

Hunsrik: Foghel

From Middle High German fugel, from Old High German fugal, variant of fogal without a-mutation.

(Ripuarian, much of Moselle Franconian) bird


Kallev

Kallev n (plural Kalver or Kälver, diminutive Källevje)

Kalver (plural)
Kälver (plural)
Källevje (diminutive)

From Old High German calf, northern variant of kalb, from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz.


Hoor

Hoor n (plural Hoor, diminutive Höörche or Häärche)

Hoor (plural)
Höörche (diminutive)
Häärche (diminutive)

From Middle High German hār, from Old High German hār.


dütsch

dütsch (masculine dütsche, feminine and plural dütsche or dütsch, comparative dütscher, superlative et dütschte)

dütsche (masculine)
dütsche (feminine plural)
dütsch (feminine plural)
dütscher (comparative)
et dütschte (superlative)

From Old High German *diudisc, northern variant of diutisc, from Proto-Germanic *þiudiskaz. The form dütsch is native in western Ripuarian, in central and eastern Ripuarian it is likely a compromise form between native döksch and outside forms (including standard German deutsch).

döksch

native in much of Ripuarian, but widely archaic


Sallem

From Old High German salmo, from Latin salmo. Compare Dutch zalm.

(chiefly along Rhine and Moselle) salmon (fish)


Lahs

(Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian, dated) salmon (fish)

Lachs

southern Moselle Franconian; now widely predominant under standard German influence


döksch

döksch (masculine döksche, feminine and plural döksche or döksch, comparative dökscher, superlative et dökschte)

döksche (masculine)
döksche (feminine plural)
döksch (feminine plural)
dökscher (comparative)
et dökschte (superlative)

From Old High German *diudisc, northern variant of diutisc, from Proto-Germanic *þiudiskaz, with the regular Ripuarian velarization -iud- → -ög- (as in höck from hiudu, hiutu).

(central and eastern Ripuarian, widely archaic) German, of Germany

central and eastern Ripuarian; widely archaic; central and eastern Ripuarian; widely archaic


Pank

Pank n (plural Pänger or Panger, diminutive Pängche)

Pänger (plural)
Panger (plural)
Pängche (diminutive)

From Old High German *pand, northern variant of phant, with Ripuarian velarization. For the sense “delimited area (of land)” compare Dutch pand (“building, premises”). For the phonetic development compare Hand.

(Ripuarian, now chiefly western dialects) pledge; security; deposit; pawn

(Ripuarian, dated) delimited area or surface (chiefly of land, hence: parcel)


Frooch

From Old High German frāga. Cognate with German Frage.


Frooch

From Old High German fruht, from Latin fructus. Cognate with German Frucht.

(Ripuarian, countable) fruit (sweet edible part of a plant)


fönnef

From Old High German fimf. The now marginal variant fīf (fief) is probably native in most of the language area, but early on began to be superseded by southern and eastern forms with a preserved nasal. Compare also sechs (“six”) and sibbe (“sieben”), which are borrowed forms, too.


sibbe

From Old High German sibun, from Proto-Germanic *sebun, from Proto-Indo-European *septḿ̥. The regular Central Franconian form is sivve. The form with -bb- is based on standard German sieben. According to its limited geographical range, it must have spread from Cologne and is probably more recent than the (also non-native) forms fönnef (“five”) and sechs (“six”).


Härjott

Här (“Lord”) + Jott (“God”). Compare German Herrgott.

De Minsche luure der en de Ooge, ävver der Härjott süht der en et Hätz.

People look into your eyes, but God sees into your heart.


Jott

From Middle High German got, from Old High German god, northern variant of got, cot.


wahße

wahße (third-person singular present wähs or wiehs or wähst or wiehst, past tense wohs, past participle jewahße or gewahs or gewahst)

wähs (present singular third-person)
wiehs (present singular third-person)
wähst (present singular third-person)
wiehst (present singular third-person)
wohs (past)
jewahße (participle past)
gewahs (participle past)
gewahst (participle past)

Wann de Wuurzele keen Plaz krijje, wähs en Planz net wegger.

When the roots find no free space, a plant won’t grow any further.

(most dialects) to grow; to become larger


Famillich

Hä hät en en rich Famillich enjehierot.
He’s married into a rich family.


söß

söß (masculine söße, feminine and plural söße or söß, comparative sößer, superlative et sößte)

söße (masculine)
söße (feminine plural)
söß (feminine plural)
sößer (comparative)
et sößte (superlative)

From Middle High German süezi, from Old High German suozi.


söß

(Ripuarian) singular past subjunctive of setze (“to sit”)

(Ripuarian, some dialects) second-person plural past subjunctive of setze


drieße

drieße (third-person singular present drieß, past participle jedresse)

drieß (present singular third-person)
jedresse (participle past)

From Old High German *drīzan, northern variant of trīzan, from Proto-Germanic *drītaną. Cognate with Dutch drijten, English drite.

Et jitt jo Lück, die emmer alles besser wesse... jo, dat kennt mer jo!
 Miestendeils hann die bluß schlääch jedresse... jo, och dat es wohr!

1998, “Mer bruche keiner”performed by Bläck Fööss:

There are those people who always know it better... yeah, we’re familiar with that!
 Most of the time they’ve just had trouble shitting... yeah, that’s true as well!

(Ripuarian, mildly vulgar) to shit; to defecate


nevve

From Old High German *ineven, northern variant of ineben.


Krütz

Krütz n (plural Krützer, diminutive Krützje)

From Middle High German kriuze, from Old High German krūzi, from Latin crux.


leev

leev (masculine leeve, feminine and plural leev or leeve, comparative leever, superlative et leevste)

leeve (masculine)
leev (feminine plural)
leeve (feminine plural)
leever (comparative)
et leevste (superlative)
leev (positive)
strong (positive)
leeve (masculine positive)
leev (feminine neuter positive)
weak (positive)
partitive (positive)
leeves (masculine neuter positive)
initial (positive)
leevem (masculine neuter positive)
leever (feminine positive)
leeve (plural positive)
non-initial (positive)
leeve (positive)
leever (comparative)
strong (comparative)
leevere (comparative masculine)
leever (comparative feminine neuter)
weak (comparative)
partitive (comparative)
leeveres (comparative masculine neuter)
initial (comparative)
leeverem (comparative masculine neuter)
leeverer (comparative feminine)
leevere (comparative plural)
non-initial (comparative)
leevere (comparative)
et leevste (superlative)
strong (superlative)
leevste (superlative)
weak (superlative)
initial (superlative)
leevstem (masculine neuter superlative)
leevster (feminine superlative)
leevste (plural superlative)
non-initial (superlative)
In this declension type (superlative)
not. (superlative)

From Middle High German lief, from Old High German *liof, lief, northern variant of liob, from Proto-Germanic *leubaz.

Woröm säs de mer net ens jet Leeves?

Why don’t you say something sweet to me for once?

Du verdräs einfach mieh als ich,
 Ich jläuv, du drinks mich unger der Desch.
 O Linda, Linda, Linda Lou, o Linda, Linda Lou!
 Keiner schaff su vill wie du, leev Linda Lou...

1975, “Leev Linda Lou”performed by Bläck Fööss:

You can simply take more than me,
 I'm sure you'll drink me under the table.
 O Linda, Linda, Linda Lou, o Linda, Linda Lou!
 Nobody can drink as much as you, dear Linda Lou...

(Ripuarian) lovable, sweet, dear, darling, good-hearted


Essel

Essel m (plural Essele, diminutive Esselche)

From Middle High German esel, from Old High German esil, from late Proto-West Germanic *asil, which is borrowed from Late Latin asellus.

Nen Essel schängk der ander Lankuhr.

A donkey calls another long-ear. (A saying.)


hondert

From Middle High German hundert, borrowed or influenced by Old Saxon hunderod (compare Old High German hund), all from Proto-Germanic *hundaradą. The native form is hongert, that with -nd- is influenced by Standard German hundert. (Compare also dausend alongside duusend.)

honnert

Moselle Franconian; parts of southern Ripuarian


Seck

From Old High German *sīda, northern variant of sīta, from Proto-Germanic *sīdǭ, with Ripuarian velarisation.

Jank op Seck!

Ich hann höck mieh wie hondert Segge jelesse.

I’ve read more than a hundred pages today.


Zeck

From Old High German *zīd, northern variant of zīt, from Proto-Germanic *tīdiz, from Proto-Indo-European *déh₂itis, with Ripuarian velarisation.

De Zeck steht net stell.

Zitt

Siegerland, otherwise scattered compromise form


Zeck

From Middle High German zecke, from Old High German zecko, zehho, from Proto-West Germanic *tīkō (“tick”). Cognate with German Zecke.


drieve

drieve (third-person singular present driev, preterite drevv, past participle jedrevve)

driev (present singular third-person)
drevv (preterite)
jedrevve (participle past)

From Middle High German drīven, from Old High German *drīvan, northern variant of trīban, from Proto-West Germanic *drīban.

Driev dat Mädche net su! Wann et net met well, bliet et evvens do.

Don’t push the girl like this! If she doesn’t want to come along, she’ll stay here.

Von hück op morje von der Bross jenomme un vill zo hastig an der Nüggel jezwunge.
 Für dä Prozess wor ich innerlich nit rief: Alles kann ich ligge, nur nit, we’ mer mich driev!

1994, “Alles kann ich ligge”performed by Bläck Fööss:

[At age six I was] weaned off the breast overnight and forced to take a dummy much too quickly.
 For this process I was mentally immature: I can stand anything except being rushed!

(Ripuarian, transitive) to drive, push, rush (cause to go somewhere or to do something)

Do driev ene dude Fesch em Waßer.

There’s a dead fish floating in the water.


Kreech

From Middle High German kriec. Note that in Ripuarian the verb krijje (“to get”) has West Germanic *ī, while Kreech and kreeje (“to make war”) have West Germanic *ē. Otherwise both forms usually show the same vocalism (*ī in Low German and Dutch, *ē in High German).

Du häs em Kreech fass mem Levve bezahlt,
 Doch se hann dich widder opjestallt.
 Die Zick, die mäht och vür dir nit halt.
 Hück häs de Ecke, die sinn jrau un kalt.

You [i.e. Cologne] almost paid with your life during the war,
 But they put you back upon your feet.
 Time spares nothing, not even you.
 Today you have places that are grey and cold.

(Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian) war


Böggel

Böggel m (plural Böggele, diminutive Böggelche)

From Old High German būdil, northern variant of būtil, with Ripuarian velarisation.

(same dialects) derogatory term for a man

(most dialects of Ripuarian) pouch; bag; purse; wallet


Kend

Kend n (plural Kenner or Kender, diminutive Kendche)

Kenner (plural)
Kender (plural)
Kendche (diminutive)

From Old High German *kind, northern variant of kint.

(most of Moselle Franconian, parts of Ripuarian) child


Jeld

From Middle High German gelt, from Old High German *geld, northern variant of gelt, from Proto-West Germanic *geld.

Et allerschünste Mädche en ene janze Bühel voll Jeld,
 Ja, dat hat dä Mann jefählt! Ja, dat hat dä Mann jefählt!

1976, “'t Retsept”, in Kirchröatsjer Sjpetsiejalietete, performed by Nico Ploum, Kerkrade Ripuarian noted here in German-based orthography:

The prettiest girl of all and a whole bag of money,
 That's what this man needs! That's what this man needs!


Krock

Krock n (no plural, diminutive Kröckche)

From Old High German *krūd, northern variant of krūt, with Ripuarian velarisation.

(Ripuarian) any small leafy or grass-like plant

(Ripuarian) thick syrup, particularly from sugarbeets


Bross

Bross f (plural Bröss, diminutive Brössje)

From Old High German brust. The native form in most or all Ripuarian dialects is Bosch from *burst or rather *borst with metathesis (compare Dutch borst). The form Brost, Bross spread northward under the influence of standard German Brust.


Rend

Rend n (plural Renner or Render, diminutive Rendche)

Renner (plural)
Render (plural)
Rendche (diminutive)

From Old High German rind, from Proto-Germanic *hrinþaz.

(most of Moselle Franconian, parts of Ripuarian) cow; bull; (head of) cattle


nemmieh

Contraction of net (“not”) + mieh (“more”).

Ich ka’ mer dä Kappes nemmieh lang aanhüre!

I can’t listen to this nonsense much longer!


Pöll

Pöll f (plural Pölle, diminutive Pöllche)

Uncertain, though a relation with Latin pullus (“chick”) is very suggestive. The feminine would point to pulla (“young hen”), but since hens are of much greater interest in poultry keeping than roosters, a development “chicken” → “hen” is always likely. The phonetically exact form (Middle High German *pülle) could be derived from the Latin masculine plural pullī. Romance origin is also suggested by the restriction to western dialects. At any rate the same word as Luxembourgish Pëll (“young hen”), and Dutch pul (“young duck”) from early modern Dutch pulle (“young hen”).

Vir haue hei ene Hohnderstall met alles staatse Pölle.
 Do fählet noch ene forsche Hahn, däm saue vir wall wölle.

1976, “Der Haan”performed by Nico Ploum, Kerkrade Ripuarian cited here in German-based orthography:

We have a chickenhouse here with all-handsome pullets.
What’s missing is a sturdy rooster, that’s one we would like.

(western and central Ripuarian) pullet; young hen

Dröm seng ich hei vür alle Lüü, besongesch vür de Pölle:

From the same song, punning on the former sense

Therefore I’m singing here for all people, especially the chicks:
Celebrate carnival, have fun, and just leave people gabble!

Viert Fastelovend, maht üch Spass en losst de Lüü mar lölle!

(the same dialects, mildly vulgar) young, usually attractive girl; chick


Dursch

From Old High German durst, thurst, from Proto-Germanic *þurstuz.

Ich bestellen e Jlas Weng on en Fläsch Wasser jäje der Dursch.

I’ll order a glass of wine and a bottle of water to quench my thirst.


Jlas

Jlas n (plural Jläser, diminutive Jläsje)

From Old High German glas, gles, from Proto-Germanic *glasą, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰel- (“to shine, glimmer, glow”).


Nohber

From Old High German nāhgibūro, from Proto-Germanic *nēhwagabūrô.


luustere

head

luustere (third-person singular present luustert, past participle jeluustert)

luustert (present singular third-person)
jeluustert (participle past)

From Old High German hlūstrēn, from the same Proto-Germanic root as *hlustiz (“hearing, ear”). Compare Luxembourgish lauschteren, Dutch luisteren.

Du moss jot luustere, söss hürs de ’t net.

You must listen closely, otherwise you won’t hear it.

(most dialects of Ripuarian) to listen (closely)


luure

luure (third-person singular present luurt or loot, past participle jeluurt or jeloot)

luurt (present singular third-person)
loot (present singular third-person)
jeluurt (participle past)
jeloot (participle past)

From Middle High German lūren. Compare German lauern, Dutch loeren, English lour.

Du moss jot luure, söss sühs de ’t net.

You must look closely, otherwise you won’t see it.

Luur, do steht e jo!

(Ripuarian) to look (originally: look closely, but now also generally)


söss

From Middle High German sus, su(n)st, from Old High German sus, with a secondary umlaut as in Dutch zus. Also cognate with Luxembourgish soss, German sonst.

Luuster jot, wat de Mamm sät, söss blies de ze Huus!

Listen closely to what Mum says, or else you’ll stay at home!

söns

Ripuarian variant; influenced by standard German


ellef

From Old High German einlif, from Proto-Germanic *ainalif.


Pief

Pief f (plural Piefe, diminutive Piefje)

From Old High German *pīfa, northern variant of phīfa, from Vulgar Latin *pīpa.


zwällef

From Old High German zwelif, from Proto-Germanic *twalif.


Peif

Peif f (plural Peife, diminutive Peifche)

(Moselle Franconian) pipe (smoking implement)


Hätz

Hätz n (plural Hätze or Hätzer, diminutive Hätzje or Hätzche)

Hätze (plural)
Hätzer (plural)
Hätzje (diminutive)
Hätzche (diminutive)

From Middle High German hërze, from Old High German herza.

Wo der een et Hätz hät, hät der ander ene Steen.

Where some people have a heart, others have a stone. (proverb)


Birk

From Middle High German birke, from Old High German birka, from Proto-West Germanic *birkijā.


rääch

rääch (masculine räächte, feminine and plural räächte or rääch, comparative räächter, superlative et räächste)

räächte (masculine)
räächte (feminine plural)
rääch (feminine plural)
räächter (comparative)
et räächste (superlative)

From Old High German reht, from Proto-Germanic *rehtaz.

Op der räächte Seck sühs de jetz us Rothuus.

You can now see our town hall on your right hand.

(central and eastern Ripuarian) right (not left)

Hä hät et Hätz om räächte Fleck.

(central and western Ripuarian) right (as it should be)


Plooch

Plooch m (plural Plööch or Pleech or Plee)

Plööch (plural)
Pleech (plural)
Plee (plural)

From Middle High German pluoch, from Old High German *pluog, northern variant of phluog, from Proto-West Germanic *plōg.

(Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian) plough, plow


Plooch

From Middle High German plāge, from Latin plaga.

(Ripuarian) an epidemic of any disease, not necessarily dangerous

(Ripuarian) a nuisance, something strenuous


Stromp

Stromp m (plural Strömp or Stremp, diminutive Strömpche or Strempche)

Strömp (plural)
Stremp (plural)
Strömpche (diminutive)
Strempche (diminutive)

From German Strumpf with adaptation to the Central Franconian phonetic system, possibly via Rhine Franconian dialects, at any rate spread from the south northward.


Botz

Botz f (plural Botze, diminutive Bötzje)


eeje

eeje (masculine eeje or eejene, feminine eeje, comparative eejener, superlative et eejenste)

eeje (masculine)
eejene (masculine)
eeje (feminine)
eejener (comparative)
et eejenste (superlative)

From Old High German eigan, from Proto-Germanic *aiganaz.

Wat nemms de emmer meng Schluffe? Du häs doch deng eeje!

Why do you always take my slippers? You do have your own!

(Ripuarian, western Moselle Franconian) own

Hä es jet eeje, ävver keene schläächte Kääl.
He’s a bit quirky, but not a bad bloke.


Sock

Sock f or m (plural Söck or Socke, diminutive Söckche or Seckche)

Söck (plural)
Socke (plural)
Söckche (diminutive)
Seckche (diminutive)

From Middle High German soc, from Old High German soc, from Latin soccus.


Baam

From Middle High German boum, from Old High German boum, from Proto-West Germanic *baum, from Proto-Germanic *baumaz.


kruffe

kruffe (third-person singular present krüff, past tense kroff, past participle jekroffe)

krüff (present singular third-person)
kroff (past)
jekroffe (participle past)

From northern Old High German *krūfan, from Proto-Germanic *kreupaną. Compare Dutch kruipen.

(most dialects of Ripuarian) to creep, to crawl


Lich

From Middle High German līch, from Old High German līh.

(most dialects of Ripuarian) corpse (dead human body)


ödeme

ödeme (third-person singular present ödemp, past participle jeödemp)

ödemp (present singular third-person)
jeödemp (participle past)

From a variant of Old High German ātamōn with umlaut (compare Middle High German ætemen).


Fleech

(Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian) fly (insect)


Möck

Möck f (plural Mögge, diminutive Möggelche)

(Ripuarian) a thin-bodied flying insect, particularly a mosquito, also a crane fly, gnat, or midge

Meck

Moselle Franconian; broader sense in southern dialects


Meck

Meck f (plural Megge, diminutive Meggelche)

(all of Moselle Franconian) a thin-bodied flying insect, particularly a mosquito, also a crane fly, gnat, or midge


Wedder

Wedder n (no plural, diminutive Wedderche)

From Old High German *wedar, northern variant of wetar.

Bei däm Wedder john ich net vür de Dür.

I won’t set foot out the door in this weather.


Pooz

Pooz f (plural Pooze, diminutive Pöözje)

From a variant of Old High German phorta, from Latin porta. The word was borrowed around the time of the end of the consonant shift, so the -t- was generally not affected by it while the p- still was (in those dialects that have a shift p- → ph-). The Ripuarian form with -z- may be due to the fact that the consonant shift reached this region somewhat later, or it may mean that the Latin word had been borrowed there earlier.


Kruck

From Old High German *krūd, northern variant of krūt.

(Kölsch) any small leafy or grass-like plant

(Kölsch) thick syrup, particularly from sugarbeets


schwade

schwade (third-person singular present schwad, past participle jeschwad)

schwad (present singular third-person)
jeschwad (participle past)


Scholder

From Old High German *sculdra, *sculdira, northern variants of scultra, scultera, from Proto-West Germanic *skuldru. The -d- is probably not preserved from the original form, but was at some point reintroduced in Scholler as a gliding sound between the two liquids.

Wä alles, wenn ’t dir klapp, hinger dir herrennt,
Ding Scholder klopp, wä dich nit all hofiert,
Sich, ohne rut ze wääde, dinge Fründ nennt
Un dich daachs drop janz einfach ignoriert.

1981, “Verdamp lang her” (1:10 from the start), in Klaus Heuser, Wolfgang Niedecken (lyrics), Für usszeschnigge!, performed by BAP, Munich: EMI Electrola:

All those who’ll dangle after you when things work out for you,
Slap your shoulder, all those who’ll adulate you,
Who’ll call themselves friends of yours without blushing
And simply ignore you the very next day.

Scholler

some Moselle Franconian and Ripuarian dialects


droon

droon (third-person singular present drät or dreet, past tense drooch or druuch, past participle gedroon or gedrage)

drät (present singular third-person)
dreet (present singular third-person)
drooch (past)
druuch (past)
gedroon (participle past)
gedrage (participle past)

From Old High German *dragan, northern variant of tragan, from Proto-Germanic *draganą.

(most of Moselle Franconian, parts of southern Ripuarian) to carry, bear, wear


Muur

Muur f (plural Muure, diminutive Müürche)

From Middle High German mūre, from Old High German mūra, from Proto-West Germanic *mūrā, borrowed from Latin mūrus, from Proto-Italic *moiros, from Proto-Indo-European *mey-.


Fott

head

Fott f (plural Fotte or Fött, diminutive Föttche)

Fotte (plural)
Fött (plural)
Föttche (diminutive)

Related with Dutch vot (“buttocks”), German Fotze (“female genitalia”), which see for more. Both of these senses are attested alongside throughout continental West Germanic. It is unknown which is original, though it is often considered more likely for a word meaning “buttocks” to be used as a euphemism for “vulva, vagina” than vice versa.

Jrau ding Hoor un su bont di Kleid.
Du häs Knies en der Bud, doch de Näjele rut.
Jrell jeschmink un de Fott jet breit.
E Jlöck, datt dir dat all jot steiht!

2002, “Du bes die Stadt”performed by Bläck Fööss:

Grey is your [i.e. Cologne's] hair and so colourful your dress.
You have quarrel at home, but your nails are red.
Glaring make-up and the butt a little wide.
It's lucky that all of that becomes you so well!


scheeße

scheeße (third-person singular present schüss or schüüß or scheeßt, past tense schoss, past participle jeschosse or geschosse or geschoss)

schüss (present singular third-person)
schüüß (present singular third-person)
scheeßt (present singular third-person)
schoss (past)
jeschosse (participle past)
geschosse (participle past)
geschoss (participle past)

Hä steht fönnef Meter vür em Tor on schüss drei Meter dernevve.

He’s standing five metres from the goal and shoots three metres off-target.

(Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian) to shoot


Hunnig

From Middle High German honec, from Old High German honag or apparently *hunag with lack of a-mutation, perhaps a compromise form between forms with regular -o- and forms with -ü- from Old High German *hunig, compare Middle High German hünic, all ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *hunag.


klevve

klevve (third-person singular present kläv, past participle jekläv)

kläv (present singular third-person)
jekläv (participle past)

From Old High German klevōn, northern variant of klebēn, from Proto-Germanic *klibāną, from Proto-Indo-European *gleybʰ- (“to stick”).

der

Meng Häng klevve vom Hunnig.

(Ripuarian, transitive or intransitive) to stick; to be sticky


höösch

head

höösch (masculine höösche, feminine and plural höösche or höösch, comparative hööscher, superlative et hööschte)

höösche (masculine)
höösche (feminine plural)
höösch (feminine plural)
hööscher (comparative)
et hööschte (superlative)

From Middle High German hövesch and/or Middle Dutch hovesch, both “courteous, polite”. Analyzable as Hoff (“court”) + -isch. Compare Dutch heus.

Wä Mösche fange well, moss höösch senn.

In order to catch sparrows, one must be gentle.

(Ripuarian, chiefly predicative and adverbial) slow, careful, gentle, quiet


Blom

Blom f (plural Blome, diminutive Blömche or Blemche)

Blome (plural)
Blömche (diminutive)
Blemche (diminutive)

From Middle High German bluome, from Proto-Germanic *blōmô.

Die hät nit vill, es nit besonders rich,
 Un hät noch lang nit jede Middaach Fleisch om Desch.
 Nur ei Deil jitt et, wo se Freud draan hät:
 Dat sinn die Blömcher op ihrem Finsterbrett.

1969, “Mir schenke der Ahl e paar Blömcher”performed by Lotti Krekel:

She doesn’t have a lot, she’s not very rich,
 And she’s far from having meat on her table every day.
 There’s just one thing that gives her joy:
 It’s the flowers one her windowsill.

(Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian) flower


unn

Willst Dau, Hannes, noh Bresilje ziehe, / Wo Deich Schlange unn die Affe kriehe? / Ach, dann stehrbt gewiß Dei Liesekett!

1874, Peter Joseph Rottmann, Gedichte in Hunsrücker Mundart, page 3:


Muhr

Muhr f (plural Murre or Muhre, diminutive Mührche)

Murre (plural)
Muhre (plural)
Mührche (diminutive)

From Old High German moraha or apparently a variant *murha.

Pääd äße jään Murre.

(Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian) carrot


freese

freese (third-person singular present früüs, past tense frur or fror, past participle jefrore)

früüs (present singular third-person)
frur (past)
fror (past)
jefrore (participle past)

From Old High German friosan, from Proto-Germanic *freusaną.

Höck Naach früüs et.

(Ripuarian, impersonal) to freeze (be below 0 degrees celsius)

(Ripuarian, of liquids) to freeze (become solid)

(Ripuarian, of living beings) to be/feel cold


Ääts

Ääts f (plural Äätse, diminutive Äätsje)


wä

From northern Middle High German wie, wē. The form wä instead of expected *wee after the original dative and accusative forms (Middle High German weme, wene).

Wä es dat?

Wäm jiss de dat?

Wä(m) sühs de?


waße

waße (third-person singular present wieß or wäßt or wießt or wäßt, past tense woß, past participle jewaße or gewaß or gewaßt)

wieß (present singular third-person)
wäßt (present singular third-person)
wießt (present singular third-person)
woß (past)
jewaße (participle past)
gewaß (participle past)
gewaßt (participle past)


Schatte

The expected outcome of Middle High German schade would be *šāt or *šāde. Schatte can only be derived from the variant schatwe, from earlier schatewe, *schadewe. Alternatively, it could be borrowed from German Schatten. This seems less likely, but might have occurred in order to avoid homophony with Schade (“damage”). In any case, eventually from Old High German scato, *scado.

Onger däm Boom derhenge kanns de dich en der Schatte setze.

You can go sit in the shade under that tree over there.


Scheif

Scheif f (plural Scheiwe, diminutive Scheifche)

From Proto-Germanic *skībǭ. Cognate with German Scheibe, Dutch schijf, English shive.

(Moselle Franconian) disc, slice, pane (flat piece or surface)


Senn

From Middle High German and Old High German sin, from Proto-West Germanic *sinn.


Senn

From Middle High German sunde, from Old High German *sunda, northern variant of sunta.


laafe

From Old High German hloufan, loufan, from Proto-West Germanic *hlaupan, from Proto-Germanic *hlaupaną.

(southern Moselle Franconian) to run; to walk; to go (move on foot, either at a normal or at an increased speed)


schääl

schääl (masculine schääle, feminine schääl, comparative schääler, superlative et schäälste)

schääle (masculine)
schääl (feminine)
schääler (comparative)
et schäälste (superlative)

From Middle High German schel, -wes, from Old High German skelah, from Proto-West Germanic *skelh. Compare German scheel, Dutch scheel.

having a crooked or limited view: cross-eyed, one-eyed, or squinting

(figurative) referring to the other bank of the Rhine (now mostly the eastern one)


beede

beede (third-person singular present beet or bütt, past tense bot or bott, past participle jebodde or gebode or geboade)

beet (present singular third-person)
bütt (present singular third-person)
bot (past)
bott (past)
jebodde (participle past)
gebode (participle past)
geboade (participle past)

From Old High German beodan, northern variant of biotan.

(Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian) to offer


Pooschdaach

/ˈpɔːʃˌdaːx/

From Poosche (“Easter”) + Daach (“day”). The former word is obsolete except in this compound and in Pooschei (“Easter egg”).


Kirch

Kirch f (plural Kirche, diminutive Kirchelche)

From Middle High German kirche, from Old High German kirihha, from Proto-West Germanic *kirikā.

Dä jeht net ens op Chressdaach on Pooschdaach en de Kirch.

He doesn’t go to church even on Christmas and Easter Sunday.


Poosche

From Middle High German pāschen, originally a plural form, from Latin pascha. This word spread in the earlier Middle Ages from the diocese of Cologne to Dutch (compare Dutch Pasen) and Low German (compare Westphalian Paosken). In Central Franconian itself it soon came under pressure from the descendants of Old High German ōstarūn, which are otherwise general in High German.


Uustere

From Middle High German ostre, from Old High German ōstarun, a case form of ōstara, from Proto-Germanic *Austrǭ.
The word is native in most of Moselle Franconian. The more traditional Ripuarian word is Poosche, which is now restricted to a few compounds. Cognate to Hunsrik Oostre


Chress

From Middle High German kristen, from Old High German kristāni, from Latin Christiānus.


Chressfess

Chressfess n (plural Chressfess or Chressfeste)

Chressfess (plural)
Chressfeste (plural)

Chress + Fess; compare German Christfest.


Ling

(Kölsch) rope of minor to medium thickness; cord


Leech

Leech n (plural Leechter, diminutive Leechje)

From Middle High German lieht, from Proto-Germanic *leuhtą. Though Middle High German -ie- yields Ripuarian -ee-, the form is due to early shortening, lowering, and secondary lengthening (cf. leech with Middle High German -ī-).

Sulang beim Lommi die Leechter noch brenne,
 Sulang ne Funk weiß, wie Stippefott jeiht,
 Sulang dä Pitter noch schleiht,
 Dä Speimanes noch speit:
 Jo, su lang stirv dä Kölsche nit us.

2015, “Sulang die Leechter noch brenne”performed by Miljö:

As long as the lights are still on at Lommi’s [pub in Deutz],
 As long as the Funken know their traditional dance,
 As long as the big bell of the Cologne Cathedral still chimes,
 As long as Speimanes still spits:
 Yeah, so long the Colognians won’t die out.

(central and eastern Ripuarian, Kölsch) light


Klock

Klock f (plural Klocke, diminutive Klöckelche or Klöckche or Kläckelche or Kläckche)

Klocke (plural)
Klöckelche (diminutive)
Klöckche (diminutive)
Kläckelche (diminutive)
Kläckche (diminutive)

From Old High German clocca, byform of glocca. Compare Luxembourgish Klack, German Glocke, Dutch klok, English clock.

Jlock

younger Ripuarian byform, influenced by Standard German

(Ripuarian, parts of Moselle Franconian) bell


kniepe

kniepe (third-person singular present kniep, past participle jekniep)

kniep (present singular third-person)
jekniep (participle past)

Possibly an unshifted relict, but regarding that the verb is restricted chiefly to the secondary sense “to blink” and has weak conjugation, probably borrowed from a Low Franconian dialect, from Middle Dutch knīpen, from Proto-West Germanic *knīpan.


Rauh

From Middle High German rāwe, from Old High German rāwa, ablaut variant of ruowa, from Proto-West Germanic *rōu, from which the Moselle Franconian forms and German Ruhe.

(Ripuarian) stillness, calm, rest, ease, tranquility, silence (absence of stress, movement, and/or sound)


Leng

Leng f (plural Lenge, diminutive Lengche)

Ich hann dä Struch met ener Leng fassjebonge, datt e net ömfällt.

I’ve bound that shrub with a cord, so it won’t fall over.

(Ripuarian) rope of minor to medium thickness; cord


Knöddel

Knöddel m (plural Knöddele, diminutive Knöddelche)

Knöddele (plural)
Knöddelche (diminutive)

From Middle High German knödel, from Old High German *knodila, diminutive of knodo (“knot”), whence Central Franconian Knodde, ultimately related to Proto-Germanic *knuttô (“knot”).
Compare German Knödel. The Central Franconian form was partly merged with related but distinct Knuddel (“clump”).


Knudel

Knudel f (plural Knudele, diminutive Knüdelche or Knidelche)

Knudele (plural)
Knüdelche (diminutive)
Knidelche (diminutive)

Uncertain. The word is, of course, comparable to synonymous German Knödel, but Middle High German knödel yields Moselle Franconian *Knedel, which is very rare at most, and Ripuarian Knöddel, which means “knot, clump”. Knudel, Knidel require Middle High German long vowels (i.e. *knōdel and *knœdel, respectively). Moreover, the gender does not match.
It cannot be ruled out that the word for “dumpling” was borrowed from southern dialects regarding the fact that this dish is more typical of southern German cuisine than northern German. On the other hand, the diversity of interrelated kn-words (compare Knodde, Knöddel, Knuddel, Knöppel, etc.) makes a neat distinction between individual forms impossible and provides for constant innovation.


Knuddel

Knuddel m (plural Knuddele, diminutive Knüddelche or Kniddelche)

Knuddele (plural)
Knüddelche (diminutive)
Kniddelche (diminutive)

From Middle High German *knudel, western variant of knutel, knütel, from Old High German chnutil, ultimately from the root of Knoten (“knot”).
The word means “thick branch” in general Middle High German (compare German Knüttel (“club, cudgel”)), but does not have this sense in Central Franconian, which uses Knöppel and Klöppel instead.

Knüddel

rarer Ripuarian form; fully merged with Knöddel


Knodde

Knodde m (plural Knodde, diminutive Knöttche)


Scheff

Scheff n (plural Scheffer or Scheffe or Scheff, diminutive Scheffje or Scheffche)

Scheffer (plural)
Scheffe (plural)
Scheff (plural)
Scheffje (diminutive)
Scheffche (diminutive)

Hunsrik: Schiff

Luxembourgish: Schëff

From Middle High German schif, from Old High German skif, from Proto-West Germanic *skip, from Proto-Germanic *skipą, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *skey-, possibly from *sek- + *-éyti. The Middle High German variant schef (with a-mutation) would have yielded /ʃɛf/.


Schnieder

head

Schnieder m (plural Schnieder or Schniedere)

From Middle High German snīder. The expected velarization (as in schnegge) did not establish itself; compare luuter.

Nemm nur, wat kütt, sät off dä Aal, un bes nit su schenant!
 Et bruch jo keine Jraf zo sinn, och keine Leutenant.
 Ov hä e Pössjen aan der Poss, ’ne Fuhrparkadmiral.
 Un wann et och ’ne Schnieder es, dat bliev sich janz ejal!

1910, “Et Stina muss ’ne Mann han”, Willi Ostermann (lyrics), Emil Palm (music)performed by Bläck Fööss, published 1985:

Just take whatever you get, the old man often says, and don't be so shy!
 It doesn't have to be an earl, nor a lieutenant.
 If he has an appointment with the post, if he's an admiral of the car park fleet.
 And even if he were a tailor, it really doesn't matter at all!


Bühel

Bühel m (plural Bühele, diminutive Bühelche)

From Old High German būdil, northern variant of būtil.

(same dialects) derogatory term for a man

Et allerschünste Mädche en ene janze Bühel voll Jeld,
 Ja, dat hat dä Mann jefählt! Ja, dat hat dä Mann jefählt!

The prettiest girl of all and a whole bag of money,
 That's what this man needs! That's what this man needs!

(westernmost Ripuarian) pouch; bag; purse; wallet


Aff

(eastern Moselle Franconian, also Moselle Franconian / Hunsrückisch) ape; monkey

Aaf

western Moselle Franconian; few dialects of Ripuarian


frieh

From Middle High German vrüeje, vrüe, from Old High German fruoi, from Proto-West Germanic *frō(ī) (“early”).


schunn

Tobich Mensch! watt brauchste so se brille? / ’diß nau ähmol annerscht nitt mei Wille, / Unn eich honn Der’t jo schunn lang gesaht:

1874, Peter Joseph Rottmann, Gedichte in Hunsrücker Mundart, page 4:

(Moselle Franconian / Hunsrückisch) already


Schlang

From Middle High German slange, from Old High German slango.

(Moselle Franconian / Hunsrückisch) snake


drööme

drööme (third-person singular present dröömp, past tense droomp, past participle jedroomp or jedröömp)

dröömp (present singular third-person)
droomp (past)
jedroomp (participle past)
jedröömp (participle past)

From Middle High German drōmen, from Old High German *droumen, northern variant of Old High German troumen (“to dream”), from Proto-West Germanic *draumijan, from Proto-Germanic *draumijaną.

Weeß de, wat ich höck Naach jedroomp hann?


Wiev

Wiev n (plural Wiever, diminutive Wievje)

From Middle High German wīf, northern variant of wīp, from Proto-West Germanic *wīb.


waade

waade (third-person singular present waat, past participle jewaat)

waat (present singular third-person)
jewaat (participle past)

From Middle High German warden, northern variant of warten, from Old High German wartēn, from Proto-West Germanic *wardēn.

Ich well nit länger waade, datt hee dat Spill bejennt.
 Well rus un mir nemme, wofür ich jebore ben.

2013, “Kumm mer lääve”performed by Kasalla:

I don’t want to wait any longer until this game starts.
 I want to get out and take what I was born for.


Desch

Desch m (plural Desche, diminutive Deschelche or Deschje)

Desche (plural)
Deschelche (diminutive)
Deschje (diminutive)


Leich

From Middle High German leich, from Old High German līh.

(Moselle Franconian) corpse (dead human body)


kruus

kruus (masculine kruuse, feminine and plural kruus or kruuse, comparative kruuser, superlative et kruuste)

kruuse (masculine)
kruus (feminine plural)
kruuse (feminine plural)
kruuser (comparative)
et kruuste (superlative)

From Middle High German krūs, from Proto-West Germanic *krūs, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *kruzlǭ (“bent or crooked object, curl”), of unknown origin; possibly from Pre-Germanic *grus-, contracted from Proto-Indo-European *gurus- (“twist, curl”), same source as Persian گرس (gors, “braid of hair”). Cognate with German kraus, Dutch kroes.

unk

unknown

der

Em Stadtwald, em Zoolonische, em Nommedaachskunzäät:
 Die drei dann do ze setze sinn, dat es der Möhde wäät!
 Dä Aal, dä deit de Muul nit op, sei trick de Leppe kruus,
 Un wie e Hohn, dat hallev jeplöck, su süht dat Stina us.

In the urban woods, at the zoo, the afternoon concert,
 You'll find the three of them sitting there and it's a sight worth seeing!
 The old man won't open his mouth, [his wife] wrinkles her lips,
 While Stina looks like a half-plucked chicken.

(Ripuarian) frizzy (of hair), wrinkled (of the forehead, nose, lips)


jeddem Dierche si Pläsierche

Literally: “To each little animal its own little pleasure.”


jedde Jeck es anders

All people are crazy, but in different ways. You may think someone crazy for one thing, but they might think you crazy for another.


Jood

From Middle High German golt, from Old High German gold, from Proto-West Germanic *golþ.

Völl Stäre en völl Sonneschien, völl Jood en och völl Jeld,
 Krestall, Brillante en Rubin, dat jitt et op de Welt.
 Doch jeder Mann, ov jonk ov oot, dat alles messe kann,
 En denkt: Wat notzt mich Tonne Jood, wenn ich jeng Mockel hann?

1952, “Ja, die mokkel”, in Kirchröatsjer Sjpetsiejalietete, performed by Nico Ploum, Kerkrade Ripuarian noted here in German-based orthography:

Lots of stars and lots of sunshine, lots of gold and lots of money,
 Crystal, brilliants and ruby, all that you find in the world.
 But every man, whether young or old, can do without all that,
 And thinks: What use are tons of gold if I don't have a chubby girl?


verkamesöle

head

verkamesöle (third-person singular present verkamesölt, past participle verkamesölt)

verkamesölt (present singular third-person)
verkamesölt (participle past)

From archaic Kamesol (“light underjacket for men”). Compare English camisole.


Räjeboge

/ˈʀɛːjəˌbɔːɣə/

From Middle High German regenboge, from Old High German reganbogo, from Proto-West Germanic *regnabogō.
The -n- of the first component was lost early on (at a stage when such loss was restricted to positions before non-alveolar consonants, as it still is in Luxembourgish). Therefore, the word did not undergo the later contraction from *Räjen to Rään.


düür

düür (masculine düüre, feminine düür, comparative düürer or düürter, superlative et düürste or düürtste)

düüre (masculine)
düür (feminine)
düürer (comparative)
düürter (comparative)
et düürste (superlative)
düürtste (superlative)

From Old High German (*)diuri, northern variant of tiuri, from Proto-Germanic *diurijaz.

En Maatfrau schreit us voller Bross: „D’r Koppschlot drei Mark vier!“
 Met Lüüs un Schnecke inklusiv, dat es doch nit ze düür.

1993, “Op dem Maat”performed by De Räuber:

A market woman is shouting at the top of her voice: “A head of lettuce three marks and four [dimes]!”
 With lice and snails included, that’s really not too expensive.


Woh

Woh f (plural Wohe, diminutive Wähelche)


Griecheland

En Griecheland zo aler Zick,
Do̧ so̧hch et andersch us wie hück.
[....]
Do̧ pumpten Zwei us Griecheland
Et Wasser, dat vum Schweiß se naaß,

1886, Fritz Hönig, För jeder Jet. Humoresken in Kölnischer Mundart, 2. ed., Köln, p. 16 & 21 (in Orpheus en der Underwelt.)

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

Southeast Europe
Southeast Europe#English

(Kölsch) Greece (a country in Southeast Europe)


Hok

Hok m (plural Hök or Häk or Hoke, diminutive Hökche or Häkche)

Hök (plural)
Häk (plural)
Hoke (plural)
Hökche (diminutive)
Häkche (diminutive)

Alteration of Hooch under influence of German Haken. See these for more.

(Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian, younger form) hook


Köbes

Ultimately from Latin Jacobus. Cognate to English Jacob, James, German Jakob. A common story explaining the second meaning is that it refers to pilgrims returning from travels to the grave of Saint Jacob, however it is more likely that it originally referred to a certain person who has been forgotten over time.

Dä Köbes mäht jään ene Wetz, es mänchmol jet spetz, doch immer aläät, un es et och spät.

The waiter likes to joke, he’s sometimes a bit sharp, but always lively, even when it is late. (Popular rhyme, given by Adam Wrede)

A waiter, especially the head waiter, in a traditional pub.


köhl

köhl (masculine köhle, feminine köhl, comparative köhler, superlative et köhlste)

köhle (masculine)
köhl (feminine)
köhler (comparative)
et köhlste (superlative)

From Middle High German küele, from Proto-Germanic *kōluz.


rieve

rieve (third-person singular present riev, past tense revv, past participle jerevve)

riev (present singular third-person)
revv (past)
jerevve (participle past)

From Middle High German (w)rīven, from Old High German *(w)rīvan, northern variant of rīban, from Proto-West Germanic *wrīban, from Proto-Germanic *wrībaną. Middle Ripuarian still regularly retained the wr-onset, which was later either reduced or merged with fr-.


Maschin

Maschin f or n (plural Maschine, diminutive Maschinche)

Maschine (plural)
Maschinche (diminutive)

From French machine. For the neuter gender compare southern Dutch machien n.


leddig

leddig (masculine leddije, feminine and plural leddije or leddig, comparative leddijer, superlative et leddigste)

leddije (masculine)
leddije (feminine plural)
leddig (feminine plural)
leddijer (comparative)
et leddigste (superlative)

From Middle High German ledec, with irregular -e- from Proto-Germanic *liþugaz. Cognate with German ledig (“unmarried, free”), Dutch leeg (“empty”), English lithy.

Mer koofen ongerwäs noch en Fläsch Weng on Blome, datt mer do net met leddije Häng aankomme.

We’ll buy a bottle of wine and flowers on the way, so we don’t arrive there with empty hands.

vacant, empty, not occupied (e.g. a seat)


Färv

From Middle High German varwe, from Old High German farwa, from Proto-West Germanic *faru, with regular -ar- → -ęr- before a non-alveolar consonant; compare the same in Dutch verf.

Frös mich, wann ich zoletz e Beld jemolt hann.
 Ob mir e Leed tatsächlich jetz jenööch.
 Ob ich jetz do ben, wo ich henjewollt hann.
 Ob mer ming Färv op die Tour nit verdrüch.

1981, “Verdamp lang her”performed by BAP:

You ask me when I last painted a picture.
 If a song really suffices me now.
 If I am now where I wanted to be.
 If my paint won’t run dry this way. / If my colour won’t wither this way.

(central and western Ripuarian) colour; paint


kodd

kodd (masculine kodde, feminine and plural kodd or kodde, comparative kodder, superlative et koddste)

kodde (masculine)
kodd (feminine plural)
kodde (feminine plural)
kodder (comparative)
et koddste (superlative)

From Middle High German quāt, from northern Old High German *quād, from Proto-West Germanic *kwād.
Related with German Kot. Following the latter, the spelling kott may be used for the Ripuarian uninflected form, but the relation is usually not seen.

Buur, Bär un Bier sinn drei kodde Dier.

Farmer, bear and boar are three evil animals. (Old Colognian proverb)

(Ripuarian, of living beings) mean, evil, wicked

(Ripuarian, of living beings) angry, furious

(Ripuarian, only of weather, times) bad, unfavourable

(Ripuarian, of money) false, counterfeit


Vääsch

Vääsch m (plural Vääsch or Vääsche or Vääschte, diminutive Vääschje)

Vääsch (plural)
Vääsche (plural)
Vääschte (plural)
Vääschje (diminutive)

From Middle High German vers, from Latin versus.

Versch

Moselle Franconian; few dialects of Ripuarian


fünnef

From Middle High German vünf, from Old High German fimf.


Schorsch

Borrowed from French Georges, from Latin Geōrgius, cognate with German Georg, Jürgen.

a male given name, equivalent to English George


Loff

From Middle High German luft, chiefly through German Luft, from Old High German luft, from Proto-West Germanic *luftu.

(Ripuarian, some dialects) air (the apparently open space above the ground of the earth)

Luff

Kölsch and some other Ripuarian dialects

Loft

air as a gas; in western dialects only for

Lueht

air as a space; but archaic in Cologne and some other places


Möhn

With dissimilation (as also in Middle Low German möne) from Old High German muoma, from Proto-West Germanic *mōmā.

Du bes en Jongfrau un en aale Möhn.
 Du bes uns Mamm un du blievs iwig schön.

You [i.e. Cologne] are a virgin and an old woman.
 You are our mother and you stay beautiful for ever.

(Ripuarian) an older woman; not implying decrepitness, but having a mildly contemptuous tone


Düvel

Düvel m (plural Düvele, diminutive Düvelche)


Bunnezupp

Bunnezupp f (plural Bunnezuppe, diminutive Bunnezüppche)

Bunnezuppe (plural)
Bunnezüppche (diminutive)


Zupp

Zupp f (plural Zuppe, diminutive Züppche)

From French soupe. Judging by Dutch soep, probably borrowed around 1700. Also related with German Suppe, which is partly from the French and partly from Low German.

Jede Naach dräump dä Jupp / von ener Woosch un ner Zupp / von nem Jullasch met ööntlich jet dren,
Suurbrode vom Pääd / un von Himmel un Ääd / denn hä kann baal kein Brütcher mieh sinn.

2006, “Am Bickendorfer Büdche”performed by Bläck Fööss:

Every night Joseph dreams about sausage and soup, about goulash with lots of stuff in it,
sour marinated horse roast and mashed potatoes with apple sauce, because he can hardly bear any more sandwiches.


zälle

zälle (third-person singular present zällt or zillt, past tense zallt, past participle jezallt)

zällt (present singular third-person)
zillt (present singular third-person)
zallt (past)
jezallt (participle past)

From Middle High German zellen, from Old High German zellan, from Proto-West Germanic *talljan, from Proto-Germanic *taljaną.


kriesche

kriesche (third-person singular present tense kriesch, past tense kresch, past participle jekresche)

kriesch (present singular third-person)
kresch (past)
jekresche (participle past)

From Middle High German krīschen, retaining the strong conjugation (like Dutch krijsen, but unlike German kreischen), from Old High German *krīskan, from Proto-West Germanic *krīskan (“to screech, scream, cry”).

inh

Kumm, loss mer fiere, nit lamentiere.
 Jet Spass un Freud, dat hät noch keinem Minsch jeschad.
 Denn die Trone, die de laachs, moss de nit kriesche.
 Loss mer fiere op kölsche Aat.

1991, “Loss mer fiere”performed by De Höhner:

Come on, let's celebrate, not whine.
 A little fun and joy has never hurt anybody.
 The tears you laugh, you don't have to cry.
 So let's celebrate like real Colognians.


föhle

head

föhle (third-person present tense föhlt, past tense fohlt, past participle jefohlt)

föhlt (present third-person)
fohlt (past)
jefohlt (participle past)

From Old High German fuolen, from Proto-West Germanic *fōlijan (“to feel, to taste”).


Kääz

head

Kääz f (plural Kääze, diminutive Kääzje)

Wenn et Leech usjing em Roxy,
 Hatte mer schnell e Kääzje stonn.
 All die Mädcher un die Jonge
 Soße, loge eng ömschlonge
 Hingen en der letzte Reih.

1996, “Wenn et Leech usjing em Roxy”performed by Bläck Fööss:

When the lights went out at the Roxy [cinema],
 We got a boner quickly. (Literally: We had a candle standing quickly.)
 All the girls and boys
 Were sitting, lying in tight embrace
 Back there in the last row.

(Ripuarian, slightly vulgar) boner, hard-on


Schnüss

Schnüss f (plural Schnüsse, diminutive Schnüssje)

Schnüsse (plural)
Schnüssje (diminutive)

From a variant of Proto-West Germanic *snūt. Immediately cognate with Luxembourgish Schnëss. Compare also German Schnauze and Schnute, Dutch snuit.

Ich weiß, dä Wääch, dä hinger uns litt, jing nit immer nur jradus.
 Manchmol flüch mer en der Himmel, manchmol litt mer op der Schnüss.

2012, “Immer noch do”performed by Kasalla:

I know the way that lies behind us, wasn't always straight ahead.
 Sometimes you fly into the sky, sometimes you lie on your face.


laache

laache (third-person present tense laach or laacht, past participle jelaach or gelaacht)

laach (present third-person)
laacht (present third-person)
jelaach (participle past)
gelaacht (participle past)

Ming eetste Fründin, dat wor et Meiers Kättche,
 Un ich fuhr mem Rädche Daach für Daach zo im.
 Et Meiers Kättche fuhr dann met om Rädche,
 Un dann dät et laache su wie ne Sonnesching.

1976, “Ming eetste Fründin”performed by Bläck Fööss:

My first girlfriend was Cathy Meier,
 And I rode my bike to her place day by day.
 Then Cathy Meier rode with me on my bike,
 And she used to laugh just like the sunshine.


Hongerlegger

/ˈhoŋʌˌleɡʌ/

From Honger (“hunger”) + legge (“to suffer”) + -er. Compare German Hungerleider.

af

(Ripuarian, offensive) weakling, wimp, loser; somewhat like the contemporary German Opfer


rijje

head

rijje (third-person singular present tense ritt, past tense rett, past participle jeredde or jerijje)

ritt (present singular third-person)
rett (past)
jeredde (participle past)
jerijje (participle past)

From Old High German *rīdan, northern variant of rītan.


rähtseröm

/ˈʀɛːdzəˌʀøm/

From rähts (“right”) + eröm (“around”). Compare German rechtsherum.

Hee jradus wegger on vürre aan dä jruße Stroß rähtseröm, dann seht er et ald.

Continue straight ahead and then turn right at the big street, then you'll already see it.


rähts

From Old High German rehtes. The regularly lost -ch- was restored in most dialects under the influence of eastern dialects and Standard German, but remained in the adverb due to the final -s. Compare the same in Luxembourgish riets versus Recht.

(Ripuarian, parts of western Moselle Franconian) right (not left)


vürre

(Ripuarian) over, ahead (at some place lying in front of one)


Naach

Naach f (plural Nääch or Näächte or Naachte)

Nääch (plural)
Näächte (plural)
Naachte (plural)

Daach un Naach


liehre

liehre (third-person singular present liehrt or leht, past participle jeliehrt or jeleht)

liehrt (present singular third-person)
leht (present singular third-person)
jeliehrt (participle past)
jeleht (participle past)

From Old High German lēren. Compare German lehren (“to teach”), Dutch leren (“to learn, teach”).

Von aale Lück ka’ mer noch jet liehre.

There’s something you can learn from old people.

(Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian) to learn

Dat mäht nix, dat liehren ich dir.


Düüvel

Düüvel m (plural Düüvele, diminutive Düüvelche)

From Middle High German diuvel, from Old High German *diuval, northern variant of tiufal, from Proto-West Germanic *diubul, from Latin diabolus, from Ancient Greek διάβολος (diábolos).

Wann de jetz net en di Zemmer jehs, dann es ävver der Düüvel loss!

If you don’t go to your room right now, all hell (lit. the devil) will break loose.


haale

haale (third-person singular present hält, past tense heelt or hielt, past participle jehaale or gehaale or gehaal)

hält (present singular third-person)
heelt (past)
hielt (past)
jehaale (participle past)
gehaale (participle past)
gehaal (participle past)

From Old High German *haldan, northern variant of haltan.


schnegge

schnegge (third-person singular present tense schnegg, past tense schnett, past participle jeschnedde or jeschnegge)

schnegg (present singular third-person)
schnett (past)
jeschnedde (participle past)
jeschnegge (participle past)


rooche

rooche (third-person singular present rooch or roocht, past participle jerooch or geroocht)

rooch (present singular third-person)
roocht (present singular third-person)
jerooch (participle past)
geroocht (participle past)

Jo’ mer eene rooche?

(most of Ripuarian, northern Moselle Franconian) to smoke


räne

räne (third-person singular present ränt, past participle jeränt or geränt)

ränt (present singular third-person)
jeränt (participle past)
geränt (participle past)

Wann et ränt, da maache mer et wie en Kölle: mer loßen et räne.

When it rains, we’ll do what they do in Cologne: we’ll let it rain. (A humorous rural saying)


nühs

The forms Ripuarian nühs, Moselle Franconian neihst (also Luxembourgish näischt) can be traced back to older *niust of somewhat obscure origin, but eventually probably from Old High German niowiht, whence also net (“not”) and German nicht, nichts.

Wat nühs koss, dat es och nühs.

De Mädcher luure noh der Jong en de Hohnder noh der Hahn.
 Su es et eemol op de Welt, do ändert mer nühs aa.

1976, “Der Haan”, in Kirchröatsjer Sjpetsiejalietete, performed by Nico Ploum, Kerkrade Ripuarian noted here in German-based orthography:

The girls look to the boy and the chickens to the rooster.
 That's just how it is in the world and nothing will be changed about it.

(Ripuarian, dated in some dialects) nothing

nix

from colloquial German; now widespread, even exclusive in Kölsch


flegg

flegg (masculine flegge, feminine flegg, comparative flegger, superlative et fleggste)

flegge (masculine)
flegg (feminine)
flegger (comparative)
et fleggste (superlative)


flögg

flögg (masculine flögge, feminine and plural flögg or flögge, comparative flögger, superlative et flöggste)

flögge (masculine)
flögg (feminine plural)
flögge (feminine plural)
flögger (comparative)
et flöggste (superlative)


naachs

(central and eastern Ripuarian) at night


Ziet

(westernmost and northernmost Ripuarian) time


wohr

wohr (masculine wohre, feminine wohr, comparative wohrer, superlative et wohrste)

wohre (masculine)
wohr (feminine)
wohrer (comparative)
et wohrste (superlative)

From Middle High German wār, from Old High German wār, from Proto-West Germanic *wār, from Proto-Germanic *wēraz.

Dat es e wohr Woot!


ääch

ääch (masculine äächte, feminine and plural äächte or ääch, comparative äächter, superlative et äächste)

äächte (masculine)
äächte (feminine plural)
ääch (feminine plural)
äächter (comparative)
et äächste (superlative)

From German echt, from Middle Low German echt. The ää- is an adaptation to the native phonetic system ("Einlautung"); compare schlääch, German schlecht.

(some dialects of Ripuarian) genuine, real, true


schniere

schniere (third-person singular present schnitt, past tense schnee, past participle geschnere)

schnitt (present singular third-person)
schnee (past)
geschnere (participle past)

From Middle High German snīden, from Old High German snīdan, from Proto-West Germanic *snīþan.


Weiht

Weiht n (plural Weihter, diminutive Weihtche)

A Low Franconian relict from Old Dutch wiht. The properly Ripuarian cognate is Weech and only means “child” (also especially female, but never “girl, maiden” in general).

On wä emol am Jröne Jong, e lecker Weiht em Ärm,
 Et ovends en de Dämmerung stong, däm schlooch et Herz so wärm.

1956, “De Retematäng”performed by Jupp Schäfers:

And who's ever stood by the “Green Boy”, a pretty girl in his arm,
 In the evening time at dusk, he felt his heart beat so warmly.

(northernmost Ripuarian) girl (female child, adolescent, young woman)


schwijje

schwijje (third-person singular present schwich or schwicht, past tense schwech or schweech, past participle jeschwijje or jeschweeje)

schwich (present singular third-person)
schwicht (present singular third-person)
schwech (past)
schweech (past)
jeschwijje (participle past)
jeschweeje (participle past)

(Ripuarian, Siegerland Moselle Franconian) to be silent, to say nothing

schweie

few dialects of Moselle Franconian; most lack the verb


en Ääts am Wandere hann

en Ääz am Wandere hann#Central_Franconian

Alternative spelling of en Ääz am Wandere hann


üvverläje

üvverläje (third-person singular present üvverlät or üvverlääch, past tense and past participle üvverlat or üvverlaach)

üvverlät (present singular third-person)
üvverlääch (present singular third-person)
üvverlat (participle past)
üvverlaach (participle past)

/ˌyvʌˈlɛːjə/

From Middle High German üverlegen, northern variant of überlegen.

Kumm met, mer fleeje zo de Stääne un zeröck.
 Mer üvverläje nit lang un dann finge mer et Jlöck.
 Un dann haale mer et fass un dann packe mer et en,
 Weil mer Stäänefleejer sinn, weil mer Stäänefleejer sinn.

2012, “Stäänefleejer”, in Immer en Bewäjung, performed by Kasalla:

Come with me, we fly to the stars and back.
 We don’t think about it for long and we find happiness.
 And then we hold on to it and put it in our bags,
 Because we're star-flyers, because we're star-flyers.


Ääz

From Old High German arawīz. The form with -z-, which is also found in bordering dialects of Low Franconian, may due to a compromise between shifted and unshifted forms.

(most dialects of Ripuarian) pea (kind of pulse)


Dumme

Dumme m (plural Dumme, diminutive Dümmche)

Un üvverhaup die dausend Fraue, die e kannt.
 Un die Messerstecherei, zick dä dä Dumme fählt an singer räächte Hand.

And after all those thousand women that he knew.
 And that knifing since which the thumb is missing from his right hand.


Fetz

Fetz m (plural Fetze, diminutive Fetzje)

Probably the same word as German Fetzen (“rag, tatter”, also “slovenly person”).

cog

Ich kleine Fetz wor noch esu jong,
 Un hä wor fass ald hondert Johr alt
 Un wood op de Bühn jebraht.

2014, “Ich han dä Millowitsch jesinn”performed by Kuhl un de Gäng:

Me, a little boy, was still so young,
 And he was almost a hundred years old
 And was carried to the stage.

(Ripuarian) a young boy, especially a naughty one (but always in a mild tone)


en Ääz am Wandere hann

Literally: “to have a travelling pea”. Probably from the idea that a pea has moved to some wrong place in one's body (or at least sometimes thus interpreted). Compare also the Princess and the Pea.

Et jitt jo Lück, die iwig schlauer sinn als andere... jo, dat kennt mer jo!
 Die Jecke hann doch bluß en Ääz am Wandere... jo, och dat es wohr!

1998, “Mer bruche keiner”performed by Bläck Fööss:

There are those people who're always smarter than the others... yeah, we're familiar with that!
 Those crazies, they have really lost it.... yeah, that's true as well!

(Ripuarian, idiomatic) to be crazy, to have lost it


Fillem

head

Fillem m (plural Filme, diminutive Fillemche)

Et wor schön, et wor jot, am Eng e bessje ze koot.
 Dausendunein Naach, wo Donner un Bletz kraach.
 Ne Fillem ohne Schloss, un nix es, wie et moss – jradus.

It was nice, it was well, in the end a little too short.
 Thousand and one nights, where thunder and lightning strike.
 A film without ending, and nothing is as it should be – straight ahead.


schloon

schloon (third-person singular present schleet or schleit, past tense schlooch, past participle jeschlage or jeschloon or geschloon or geschlaan)

schleet (present singular third-person)
schleit (present singular third-person)
schlooch (past)
jeschlage (participle past)
jeschloon (participle past)
geschloon (participle past)
geschlaan (participle past)

(most dialects) to hit; to beat; to defeat


Appeltaat

Appeltaat f (plural Appeltaate, diminutive Appeltäätche)

Appeltaate (plural)
Appeltäätche (diminutive)

From Appel (“apple”) + Taat (“tart, cake”). Compare Dutch appeltaart.

Dröm, Mädche, pass jot op!
 Mir Kölsche sinn jot drop.
 Mir schmecken och met Baat
 Su wie en Appeltaat.

1995, “Kölsche Junge bütze joot”performed by Räuber:

So watch and see, girl!
 We Colognians are in good shape.
 Even with a beard we taste
 Just like an apple pie.

(Ripuarian, some dialects of Moselle Franconian) apple pie


böcke

böcke (third-person singular present böck, past participle jeböck or jebock)

böck (present singular third-person)
jeböck (participle past)
jebock (participle past)

Et jitt e Denge, et jitt e Denge,
Wann de Mädcher sich böcke,
Dann hann se et henge.
There’s a thing, there’s a thing,
When the girls bend down,
It’s in the back. [i.e. the vulva] (An old vulgar rhyme.)

(Ripuarian, reflexive) to bend down, to stoop


Vadder

Vadder m (plural Vaddere or Vedder, diminutive Veddersje)

Vaddere (plural)
Vedder (plural)
Veddersje (diminutive)

From Middle High German vater, from Old High German fater, fader, from Proto-West Germanic *fader, from Proto-Germanic *fadēr, from Proto-Indo-European *ph₂tḗr.
Compare Limburgish vajer, Dutch vader, German Vater, English father.

Heë is perfek ziengen Vadder

Vatter

most of Central Franconian, changed from the dialectical form under influence from German


Frankrich

From Middle High German Frankrīche. By surface analysis, Frank (“Frank”) + Rich (“realm”).

surface analysis

Se haue lang överlad, of se noh Dütschland erenn bes Koblenz, of noh Frankrich erenn bes Paris reise saue.

1869, Joseph Müller, Prosa und Gedichte in Aachener Mundart, 2nd edition, volume 1, page 109:

They pondered at length whether they should travel into Germany to Koblenz or into France to Paris.

Verwondert schreie all de Löck:
 Seet Frankrich, wat ä Häldestöck!

(Can we date this quote?), “Wiss, Ruth on Bloh”, in Johannes Matthias Firmenich, editor, Germaniens Völkerstimmen – Sammlung der deutschen Mundarten in Dichtungen, Sagen, Mährchen, Volksliedern u.s.w., volume 1, sample of Düren dialect, page 479:

All the people shout in bewilderment:
 Look at France, what a feat!


räuhig

head

räuhig (masculine räuhije, feminine and plural räuhije or räuhig, comparative räuhijer, superlative et räuhigste)

räuhije (masculine)
räuhije (feminine plural)
räuhig (feminine plural)
räuhijer (comparative)
et räuhigste (superlative)

(Ripuarian) still, calm, easy, tranquil, silent (without stress, movement, and/or sound)


räuhig

Un deit der Härjott mich ens rofe,
 Däm Petrus sagen ich alsdann:
 Ich kann et räuhig dir verzälle,
 Datt Sehnsuch ich noh Kölle hann.

1936, “Heimweh nach Köln”performed by Willi Ostermann:

And when the Lord calls me one day,
 Then I’ll say to Peter:
 I may as well tell you
 That I long to be in Cologne.

(Ripuarian) just, freely, easily (without too much reluctance, caution, or fear); often expresses English may as well


Frösch

Frösch m (plural Frösch, diminutive Fröschelche)

Frösch (plural)
Fröschelche (diminutive)

From Old High German frosk, from Proto-Germanic *fruskaz. The -ö- is due to regular secondary umlaut before -sch-; compare Bösch, Fläsch, etc.

Frosch

Siegerland, otherwise here and there as a recent variant


Wedderfrösch

/ˈʋɛdʌˌfʀœʃ/

From Wedder (“weather”) + Frösch (“frog”).

De Mamm hät der Drieh jetz endlich rus:
 Hück bliev der Papa brav zo Hus.
 Ejal, wat der Wedderfrösch verzällt,
 Dat Barometer nit mieh fällt.

1975, “Wenn de Sonn schön schingk”performed by Bläck Fööss:

Mum has really figured it out now:
 Dad will be good today and stay at home.
 No matter what the weather frog says,
 The barometer won’t fall anymore.

(Ripuarian) a frog kept in a jar with a small ladder, used to predict the weather; see German Wetterfrosch for more


Jüdd

Jüdd m (plural Jüdde, diminutive Jüddche)

From Middle High German jüde, from Latin iudaeus.


Faddem

Faddem m (plural Fäddem, diminutive Fäddemche)

From Old High German fadum, from Proto-West Germanic *faþm, from Proto-Germanic *faþmaz.


dööfe

dööfe (third-person singular present dööf, past participle jedööf)

dööf (present singular third-person)
jedööf (participle past)

From Middle High German döufen, from Old High German *doufen, northern variant of toufen, from Proto-Germanic *daupijaną.

Hä es jedööf – ov e ze Kommelejun jeht, kann e dann selver sage.
He’s been baptised – whether he’ll go to (First) Communion, he can then decide for himself.


Jåhr

From Middle High German jār, from Old High German jār, from Proto-West Germanic *jār. Cognate with German Jahr.

Nör öß ed hei
E Jåhr verbei,

Am Löndebaam. Nach einem um Saarlouis lebenden Volksliede. Mundart von Trier, p. 248; in: 1889, Hermann Welcker (ed.), Dialektgedichte. Sammlung von Dichtungen in allen deutschen Mundarten, nebst poetischen Proben aus dem Alt-, Mittel- & Neudeutschen, sowie den germanischen Schwestersprachen, 2nd ed., p. 247ff.

(please add an English translation of this quotation)


Fääsch

(Ripuarian) heel (back of the foot or shoe)


jenooch

From Old High German ginuog, from Proto-Germanic *ganōgaz.

Häs de jenooch Brut metjebraht?


jenooch

Dat es jenooch.


jenooch

De Mannschaff es net jot jenooch.


Levver

From Old High German levera, northern variant of lebara, from Proto-Germanic *librō.


Korv

From Old High German corf, northern variant of corb, from Proto-West Germanic *korb.


Kruckedill

Kruckedill n (plural Kruckedille, diminutive Kruckedillche)

Kruckedille (plural)
Kruckedillche (diminutive)

Ultimately from Ancient Greek κροκόδειλος (krokódeilos).


klafe

klafe (third-person singular present klaf, past participle jeklaf)

klaf (present singular third-person)
jeklaf (participle past)

From Middle High German klaffen (“to open, clap, babble”), from Old High German klaffōn (“to clap, sound”). Cognate with German klaffen (“to be open”), Old Saxon klapen (“to clap”). Geminated variants of the same verb are German klappen, Dutch klappen, English clap.

inh

(Ripuarian) to chat, to talk among each other


Fauer

From Middle High German viur, viwer, viuwer, from Old High German fiur, fuïr, from Proto-West Germanic *fuir, from Proto-Germanic *fōr, from Proto-Indo-European *péh₂wr̥.

(some dialects of Moselle Franconian) fire


Ollich

From Middle High German olei, olge, variants of öle, from Old High German oli, from Latin oleum.

(central and eastern Ripuarian, parts of Moselle Franconian) oil


Öllich

Inherited from Middle High German ulloch, ullouch, from Old High German ullouh, contraction of unilouh, from Proto-West Germanic *unnjalauk; equivalent to Önn + Looch, both of which originally meant “onion” in the dialects.
Compare for the former Dutch ui (“onion”), for the latter German Lauch (“leek”).


Abbauhämmerche

head

Abbauhämmerche n (plural Abbauhämmercher)


Abbauhammer

Abbauhammer m (plural Abbauhammere, diminutive Abbauhämmerche)

Abbauhammere (plural)
Abbauhämmerche (diminutive)

Compound of Abbau (“mining”) + Hammer (“hammer”).

D'r Koal losmaache mit d'r Abbauhammer.

Loosening the coal with the pneumatic hammer.

(Mining) (most of Ripuarian) A pneumatic hammer


vöhle

vöhle (third-person present tense vöhlt, past tense vohlt, past participle jevohlt)

vöhlt (present third-person)
vohlt (past)
jevohlt (participle past)

From Old High German fuolen, from Proto-West Germanic *fōlijan (“to feel, to taste”).


Appelkuus

head

Appelkuus f (plural Appelkuuse, diminutive Appelküüsje or Appelküüsche)

Appelkuuse (plural)
Appelküüsje (diminutive)
Appelküüsche (diminutive)

(dialectal) Alternative form of Apriekuus


Appelküüsche

(Moselle Franconian) diminutive of Appelkuus


Appelküüscher

(Moselle Franconian) plural of Appelküüsche


Appelkoeës

Appelkoeës f (plural Appelkoeëze, diminutive Appelkues-je)

Appelkoeëze (plural)
Appelkues-je (diminutive)

(Kirchröadsj) Alternative form of Abriekoeës


Absjied

Absjied m (plural Absjiede, diminutive Absjiedsje)

Absjiede (plural)
Absjiedsje (diminutive)


Appelküüsjer

(most of Ripuarian) plural of Appelküüsje


Abriekoeës

Abriekoeës f (plural Abriekoeëze, diminutive Abriekues-je)

Abriekoeëze (plural)
Abriekues-je (diminutive)

Late 16th century. Borrowed from Late Middle French abricots, plural of abricot, from Arabic اَلْبَرْقُوق (al-barqūq), from Ancient Greek πραικόκιον (praikókion), from Latin praecoqua. At the time of the borrowing, the French plural-s was still pronounced (at least in pausal position), hence the form Abriekoeës.

der

اَلْبَرْقُوق


aabakke

head

aabakke (third-person present tense bakt aa, past tense bakket aa or bók aa, present participle aabakkend or aabakkens, past participle aajebakke)

bakt aa (present third-person)
bakket aa (past)
bók aa (past)
aabakkend (participle present)
aabakkens (participle present)
aajebakke (participle past)

[ˈæ̃ːˌbɑ.kə]

(Kirchröadsj, intransitive) to burn to the pan.


aabelange

aabelange (third-person present tense belangt aa, past tense belanget aa, present participle aabelangend or aabelangens, past participle aabelangd)

belangt aa (present third-person)
belanget aa (past)
aabelangend (participle present)
aabelangens (participle present)
aabelangd (participle past)

/ˈaː.bəˌlɑ.ŋə/

[ˈæ̃ː.bəˌlɑ.ŋə]

(Kirchröadsj, transitive) to concern, to affect.


aabeëne

aabeëne (third-person present tense beënt aa, past tense beënet aa, present participle aabeënend or aabeënens, past participle aajebeënd)

beënt aa (present third-person)
beënet aa (past)
aabeënend (participle present)
aabeënens (participle present)
aajebeënd (participle past)

[ˈæ̃ːˌbeə.nə]

(Kirchröadsj, transitive, figuratively) to adore


aabeie

aabeie (third-person present tense beit aa, past tense beiet aa or boan aa, present participle aabeiend or aabeiens, past participle aajeboane)

beit aa (present third-person)
beiet aa (past)
boan aa (past)
aabeiend (participle present)
aabeiens (participle present)
aajeboane (participle past)

/ˈaːˌbɛi̯.ə/

[ˈæ̃ːˌbɛi̯.ə]

(Kirchröadsj, ditransitive) to offer, to provide.

(Kirchröadsj, reflexive) to offer oneself, to volunteer, (in sexual contexts) to solicit.


aabeveële

aabeveële (third-person present tense beveëlt aa, past tense beveëlet aa or bevool aa, present participle aabeveëlend or aabeveëlens, past participle aabevoale)

beveëlt aa (present third-person)
beveëlet aa (past)
bevool aa (past)
aabeveëlend (participle present)
aabeveëlens (participle present)
aabevoale (participle past)

[ˈæ̃ː.bəˌveə.lə]

(Kirchröadsj, intransitive, reflexive) to recommend oneself


aabiese

aabiese (third-person present tense biest aa, past tense bieset aa or bees aa, present participle aabiesend or aabiesens, past participle aajebèse)

biest aa (present third-person)
bieset aa (past)
bees aa (past)
aabiesend (participle present)
aabiesens (participle present)
aajebèse (participle past)

[ˈæ̃ːˌbiː.sə]

(Kirchröadsj, transitive) to take the first bite of food

(Kirchröadsj, intransitive, of fish) to bite, to take the bait


aabinge

aabinge (third-person present tense bingt aa, past tense bong aa, present participle aabingend or aabingens, past participle aajebónge)

bingt aa (present third-person)
bong aa (past)
aabingend (participle present)
aabingens (participle present)
aajebónge (participle past)

(Kirchröadsj, intransitive) to make contact, to reach out

(Kirchröadsj, transitive) to affix (something) to something else, to bind


aabletsje

aabletsje (third-person present tense bletsjt aa, past tense bletsjet aa, present participle aabletsjend or aabletsjens, past participle aajebletsjd)

bletsjt aa (present third-person)
bletsjet aa (past)
aabletsjend (participle present)
aabletsjens (participle present)
aajebletsjd (participle past)

/ˈaːˌblɛ.t͡ʃə/

(Kirchröadsj, transitive) to shout at (in an unsympathetic manner)


aablieve

aablieve (third-person present tense blieft aa or bliet aa, past tense blievet aa or bleef aa or bloof aa, present participle aablievend or aablievens, past participle aajeblève or aajeblóve)

blieft aa (present third-person)
bliet aa (present third-person)
blievet aa (past)
bleef aa (past)
bloof aa (past)
aablievend (participle present)
aablievens (participle present)
aajeblève (participle past)
aajeblóve (participle past)

(Kirchröadsj, intransitive) to remain in office

(Kirchröadsj, intransitive) to keep a (romantic) relationship going


Aablik

Aablik m (plural Aablikke, diminutive Aabliks-je)

Aablikke (plural)
Aabliks-je (diminutive)


aaböake

aaböake (third-person present tense böakt aa, past tense böaket aa, present participle aaböakend or aaböakens, past participle aajeböakd)

böakt aa (present third-person)
böaket aa (past)
aaböakend (participle present)
aaböakens (participle present)
aajeböakd (participle past)

/ˈaːˌbœə.kə/

(Kirchröadsj, intransitive) to loudly rant against someone


aabloaze

aabloaze (third-person present tense bloast aa, past tense bloazet aa or bloos aa, present participle aabloazend or aabloazens, past participle aajebloaze)

bloast aa (present third-person)
bloazet aa (past)
bloos aa (past)
aabloazend (participle present)
aabloazens (participle present)
aajebloaze (participle past)

(Kirchröadsj, transitive) to kindle by means of breath or wind

(Kirchröadsj, intransitive, music) to play the first note with a wind instrument


aabraad

Deë Kal is hei nit aabraad.


aaboare

aaboare (third-person present tense boart aa, past tense boaret aa, present participle aaboarend or aaboarens, past participle aajeboard)

boart aa (present third-person)
boaret aa (past)
aaboarend (participle present)
aaboarens (participle present)
aajeboard (participle past)

/ˈaːˌboə.ʁə/

(Kirchröadsj, transitive) to tap into a resource (mostly said of coal)


Aabouw

Aabouw m (plural Aabui, diminutive Aabuisje)

From the verb aabouwe (“to expand”). Equivalent to aa (“on”) + bouw (“construction”). Compare German Anbau and Dutch aanbouw.


Aadenke

Aadenke n (plural Aadenker or Aadinker, diminutive Aadenkesje)

Aadenker (plural)
Aadinker (plural)
Aadenkesje (diminutive)

/ˈaːˌdɛŋ.kə/

From Middle High German andenken, anedenken, equivalent to aa- (“on”) + denke (“to think”). Compare German Andenken, Limburgish aandènke, Dutch aandenken.

(Kirchröadsj) memory; remembrance (especially of a deceased person)

(Kirchröadsj) memento; souvenir; keepsake (something of emotional value kept as a reminder)


Ablas

Ablas m (plural Ables, diminutive Ables-je)

Possibly from Middle Dutch aflaet. Compare Dutch aflaat.

(Kirchröadsj, Roman Catholicism) indulgence, reduction of expected punishment in purgatory


absjäulieg

absjäulieg (comparative absjäuliejer, superlative absjäuliegste)

absjäuliejer (comparative)
absjäuliegste (superlative)


absjäulieg

(Kirchröadsj) hideously, beastly, abominably, detestably


Stech

Stech m (plural Stech, diminutive Stechelche)

From Middle High German stich, from Proto-Germanic *stikiz.