Feder

de-noun

Feder f (genitive Feder, plural Federn, diminutive Federchen n)

Feder (genitive)
Federn (plural)
Federchen (diminutive neuter)
Feder (nominative singular)
Federn (definite nominative plural)
Feder (genitive singular)
Federn (definite genitive plural)
Feder (dative singular)
Federn (dative definite plural)
Feder (accusative singular)
Federn (accusative definite plural)

From Middle High German vëdere, from Old High German fedara (akin to Old Saxon fethara), from Proto-West Germanic *feþru, from Proto-Germanic *feþrō, from Proto-Indo-European *péth₂r̥ ~ pth₂én- (“feather, wing”), from *peth₂- (“to fly”).
Compare Low German Fedder, Dutch veder, veer, English feather, Danish fjer, Swedish fjäder.


Berlin

de-proper noun

Berlin n (proper noun, genitive Berlins or (optionally with an article) Berlin, plural Berlin)

Berlins (genitive)
Berlin (genitive with-article)
Berlin (plural)
Berl. (alternative abbreviation)

→ Norwegian Bokmål: Berlin

→ Vietnamese: Béc-linh

Margraviate of Brandenburg
de:Belitz
de:Berlin

The place is first mentioned by this name in the late 12th century (as Middle Low German Berlyn).
The origin is unknown. Slavic by the suffix -in.
According to (incorrect) folk etymology, the name is derived from the Bär (“bear”) that is the symbol of the city.
In a popular etymology of Germanists, it is derived from a Polabian stem *berl- ~ *birl- (“swamp”), for which lexical item there is no evidence in Polabian nor in any Slavic language. Closest to that would be an unknown simpler relative of *bьrlogъ (“cave”).
Attested vocabulary is Polabian poro (“swamp, bog”). *bělь also meant a “swampy meadow” or “white field”, which fits the location at the märkische Streusandbüchse, the “Margraviate pounce box” notorious for its sandy soil, and is also the noun behind Belitz.

Flächenländer: Baden-Württemberg · Bayern · Brandenburg · Hessen · Niedersachsen · Mecklenburg-Vorpommern · Nordrhein-Westfalen · Rheinland-Pfalz · Saarland · Sachsen · Sachsen-Anhalt · Schleswig-Holstein · Thüringen

(metonymic) Berlin (federal government of Germany)


Stadt

de-noun

Stadt f (genitive Stadt, plural Städte, diminutive Städtchen n or Städtlein n)

Stadt (genitive)
Städte (plural)
Städtchen (diminutive neuter)
Städtlein (diminutive neuter)
Stadt (nominative singular)
Städte (definite nominative plural)
Stadt (genitive singular)
Städte (definite genitive plural)
Stadt (dative singular)
Städten (dative definite plural)
Stadt (accusative singular)
Städte (accusative definite plural)

From Middle High German stat, from Old High German stat, from Proto-West Germanic *stadi, from Proto-Germanic *stadiz, from Proto-Indo-European *stéh₂tis. Doublet of Statt and Stätte.

(metonymic) city center (a central business area of a city)

(metonymic) city, town, town council, city council (a governing body of people elected to oversee management of a municipality)


Hollywood

de-proper noun

Hollywood n (proper noun, genitive Hollywoods or (optionally with an article) Hollywood)

Hollywoods (genitive)
Hollywood (genitive with-article)

Unadapted borrowing from English Hollywood.

ubor

(metonymic) Hollywood (the American motion picture industry, regardless of location)


Haut

de-noun

Haut f (genitive Haut, plural Häute, diminutive Häutchen n or Häutlein n)

Haut (genitive)
Häute (plural)
Häutchen (diminutive neuter)
Häutlein (diminutive neuter)
Haut (nominative singular)
Häute (definite nominative plural)
Haut (genitive singular)
Häute (definite genitive plural)
Haut (dative singular)
Häuten (dative definite plural)
Haut (accusative singular)
Häute (accusative definite plural)

→ Esperanto: haŭto

From Middle High German hūt, from Old High German hūt, from Proto-West Germanic *hūdi, from Proto-Germanic *hūdiz, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewH-.

brave Haut

(by extension, metonymic) a creature, especially a person


Gesicht

Gesicht n (strong, genitive Gesichtes or Gesichts, plural Gesichter, diminutive Gesichtchen n or Gesichtlein n)

Gesichtes (genitive)
Gesichts (genitive)
Gesichter (plural)
Gesichtchen (diminutive neuter)
Gesichtlein (diminutive neuter)
Gesicht (nominative singular)
Gesichter (definite nominative plural)
Gesichtes (genitive singular)
Gesichts (genitive singular)
Gesichter (definite genitive plural)
Gesicht (dative singular)
Gesichte (dative singular)
Gesichtern (dative definite plural)
Gesicht (accusative singular)
Gesichter (accusative definite plural)

From Middle High German gesiht, from Old High German gisiht, from Proto-West Germanic *gasihti. By surface analysis, ge- + Sicht.


Kinderstube

Kinderstube f (genitive Kinderstube, plural Kinderstuben)

Kinderstube (genitive)
Kinderstuben (plural)
Kinderstube (nominative singular)
Kinderstuben (definite nominative plural)
Kinderstube (genitive singular)
Kinderstuben (definite genitive plural)
Kinderstube (dative singular)
Kinderstuben (dative definite plural)
Kinderstube (accusative singular)
Kinderstuben (accusative definite plural)

[ˈkʰɪndɐˌʃtuːbə]

Wo bleibt deine Kinderstube?

(uncountable, metonymic) good upbringing, particularly good manners or education


Zunge

Zunge f (genitive Zunge, plural Zungen, diminutive Zünglein n or Züngelchen n)

Zunge (genitive)
Zungen (plural)
Zünglein (diminutive neuter)
Züngelchen (diminutive neuter)
Zunge (nominative singular)
Zungen (definite nominative plural)
Zunge (genitive singular)
Zungen (definite genitive plural)
Zunge (dative singular)
Zungen (dative definite plural)
Zunge (accusative singular)
Zungen (accusative definite plural)

From Middle High German zunge, from Old High German zunga, from Proto-West Germanic *tungā, from Proto-Germanic *tungǭ; from Proto-Indo-European *dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s (“tongue”).
Germanic Cognates include Old Saxon tunga, Low German Tung, Old Dutch tunga, Dutch tong, Old English tunge (Modern English tongue), West Frisian tonge, Old Norse tunga (> Swedish tunga, Faroese tunga, Norwegian tunge, Swedish tunga, Danish tunge) and Gothic 𐍄𐌿𐌲𐌲𐍉 (tuggō).
Non-Germanic-Cognates with identical meaning include Irish teanga, Welsh tafod, Latin lingua (> Portuguese língua, Spanish lengua, Catalan llengua, French langue, Italian lingua, Romanian limbă), Armenian լեզու (lezu), Lithuanian liežùvis, Sanskrit जिह्वा (jihvā́), Persian زبان (zabân), Proto-Slavic *ęzykъ (> Czech jazyk, Polish język, Russian язы́к (jazýk), Serbo-Croatian јѐзик, Bulgarian ези́к (ezík)).

Menschen anderer Zunge

in Zungen reden

1892, Hermann Jellinghaus, Forschungen. Herausgegeben vom Verein für niederdeutsche Sprachforschung. Band V. — Die niederländischen Volksmundarten. Nach den Aufzeichnungen der Niederländer von Hermann Jellinghaus, Diedr. Soltau's Verlag: Norden & Leipzig, p. 17

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

In Zeeländisch-Flandern hat die Gegend von ter Neuze und Aksel am meisten von zeeländischer Zunge beibehalten.


Ort

Ort m (strong, genitive Ortes or Orts, plural Orte or (jargon) Örter, diminutive Örtchen n)

Ortes (genitive)
Orts (genitive)
Orte (plural)
Örter (jargon plural)
Örtchen (diminutive neuter)
Ort (nominative singular)
Orte (definite nominative plural)
Örter (definite jargon nominative plural)
Ortes (genitive singular)
Orts (genitive singular)
Orte (definite genitive plural)
Örter (definite genitive jargon plural)
Ort (dative singular)
Orte (dative singular)
Orten (dative definite plural)
Örtern (dative definite jargon plural)
Ort (accusative singular)
Orte (accusative definite plural)
Örter (accusative definite jargon plural)

From Middle High German ort (“point (of a tool or weapon), corner, end point, boundary, border, site, place”), from Old High German ort (“point, tip, corner”) (8th century), from Proto-West Germanic *oʀd, from Proto-Germanic *uzdaz (“point”).

inh

(metonymic) the collective of inhabitants of such a settlement


Versailles

de-proper noun

Versailles n (proper noun, genitive Versailles' or (with an article) Versailles)

Versailles' (genitive)
Versailles (genitive)

(metonymic) ellipsis of Diktat von Versailles or Versailler Diktat,Versailler Vertrag|t=Treaty of Versailles}}


Massenproduktion

de-noun

Massenproduktion f (genitive Massenproduktion, plural Massenproduktionen)

Massenproduktion (genitive)
Massenproduktionen (plural)
Massenproduktion (nominative singular)
Massenproduktionen (definite nominative plural)
Massenproduktion (genitive singular)
Massenproduktionen (definite genitive plural)
Massenproduktion (dative singular)
Massenproduktionen (dative definite plural)
Massenproduktion (accusative singular)
Massenproduktionen (accusative definite plural)

(metonymic) an item made in mass production


Flensburg

de-proper noun

Flensburg n (proper noun, genitive Flensburgs or (optionally with an article) Flensburg)

Flensburgs (genitive)
Flensburg (genitive with-article)

Er hat 3 Punkte in Flensburg.

He has 3 penalty points on his driving licence.

the German National Driver and Vehicle Register

(metonymic) the record of traffic offences


Spätlese

de-noun

Spätlese f (genitive Spätlese, plural Spätlesen)

Spätlese (genitive)
Spätlesen (plural)
Spätlese (nominative singular)
Spätlesen (definite nominative plural)
Spätlese (genitive singular)
Spätlesen (definite genitive plural)
Spätlese (dative singular)
Spätlesen (dative definite plural)
Spätlese (accusative singular)
Spätlesen (accusative definite plural)

/ˈʃpɛːtˌleːzə/

From spät (“late”) + Lese (“harvest”). Cognate with lesen (“to read, select, pick”), which yields a high-quality connotation.

(metonymic) a (usually white) wine made from grapes which are purposefully harvested very late, so as to be extra sweet


Braunhemd

Braunhemd n (mixed, genitive Braunhemds or Braunhemdes, plural Braunhemden)

Braunhemds (genitive)
Braunhemdes (genitive)
Braunhemden (plural)
Braunhemd (nominative singular)
Braunhemden (definite nominative plural)
Braunhemds (genitive singular)
Braunhemdes (genitive singular)
Braunhemden (definite genitive plural)
Braunhemd (dative singular)
Braunhemde (dative singular)
Braunhemden (dative definite plural)
Braunhemd (accusative singular)
Braunhemden (accusative definite plural)

(metonymic) Brownshirt (a member of the SA)


Karlsruhe

de-proper noun

Karlsruhe n (proper noun, genitive Karlsruhes or (optionally with an article) Karlsruhe)

Karlsruhes (genitive)
Karlsruhe (genitive with-article)
Karlsruhe (definite nominative singular)
Karlsruhes (definite genitive singular)
Karlsruhe (definite genitive singular with-article)
Karlsruhe (dative definite singular)
Karlsruhe (accusative definite singular)
Carlsruhe (alternative obsolete)

/ˈkaɐ̯lsˌʁuːə/

From Karl + -s- + Ruhe, literally “Charles’s rest”, after Charles III William of Baden-Durlach.

af

(metonymic) the court that rules on cases concerning the Grundgesetz, Germany's equivalent of a constitution, which is situated in said city


Kober

de-noun

Kober m (strong, genitive Kobers, plural Kober, feminine Koberin)

Kobers (genitive)
Kober (plural)
Koberin (feminine)
Kober (nominative singular)
Kober (definite nominative plural)
Kobers (genitive singular)
Kober (definite genitive plural)
Kober (dative singular)
Kobern (dative definite plural)
Kober (accusative singular)
Kober (accusative definite plural)

Rotwelsch from Yiddish קבה (kove, “bed-chamber”), from Hebrew קֻבָּה (qubbā, “bed-chamber, vaulted tent”) as in Numbers 25:8, akin to Aramaic קוּבְּתָא / ܩܘܼܒ݁ܬ݂ܵܐ (qubbəṯā).

cog

Aramaic קוּבְּתָא

fetter Kober

nasser Kober

(metonymic) john, customer of a prostitute


Schlipsträger

de-noun

Schlipsträger m (strong, genitive Schlipsträgers, plural Schlipsträger)

Schlipsträgers (genitive)
Schlipsträger (plural)
Schlipsträger (nominative singular)
Schlipsträger (definite nominative plural)
Schlipsträgers (genitive singular)
Schlipsträger (definite genitive plural)
Schlipsträger (dative singular)
Schlipsträgern (dative definite plural)
Schlipsträger (accusative singular)
Schlipsträger (accusative definite plural)

/ˈʃlɪpsˌtʁɛːɡɐ/

(derogatory, metonymic) suit (formally dressed man)


Homeoffice

Homeoffice n (strong, genitive Homeoffices or Homeoffice, plural Homeoffices)

Homeoffices (genitive)
Homeoffice (genitive)
Homeoffices (plural)
Homeoffice (nominative singular)
Homeoffices (definite nominative plural)
Homeoffices (genitive singular)
Homeoffice (genitive singular)
Homeoffices (definite genitive plural)
Homeoffice (dative singular)
Homeoffices (dative definite plural)
Homeoffice (accusative singular)
Homeoffices (accusative definite plural)
Home-Office (alternative)

Alle anderen, die keinen festen Telearbeitsplatz haben, sondern gelegentlich Homeoffice machen, sind selbst für den Schutz vor Hitze zuständig.

2022 July 20, Shoko Bethke, “Arbeiten bei Rekordhitze: Die Fenster besser geöffnet lassen”, in Die Tageszeitung: taz, →ISSN:

(uncountable, metonymic) (the practice of) telecommuting


Rolli

Rolli m (strong, genitive Rollis, plural Rollis)

Rollis (genitive)
Rollis (plural)
Rolli (nominative singular)
Rollis (definite nominative plural)
Rollis (genitive singular)
Rollis (definite genitive plural)
Rolli (dative singular)
Rollis (dative definite plural)
Rolli (accusative singular)
Rollis (accusative definite plural)

a wheelchair
(metonymic, rare) a wheelchair user


vier Wände

vier Wände (definite nominative plural)
vier Wände (definite genitive plural)
vier Wänden (dative definite plural)
vier Wände (accusative definite plural)

Unsre lieben vier Wände! Du hast sie bereitet,
 ich habe sie dir zur Welt geweitet –
 o Glück!

1898, “Befreit”, Richard Dehmel (lyrics), Richard Strauss (music):

(metonymic) one's home, one's own four walls


Verbrenner

Verbrenner m (strong, genitive Verbrenners, plural Verbrenner)

Verbrenners (genitive)
Verbrenner (plural)
Verbrenner (nominative singular)
Verbrenner (definite nominative plural)
Verbrenners (genitive singular)
Verbrenner (definite genitive plural)
Verbrenner (dative singular)
Verbrennern (dative definite plural)
Verbrenner (accusative singular)
Verbrenner (accusative definite plural)

/fɛɐ̯ˈbʁɛnɐ/

Die Hersteller planen, in Südamerika noch deutlich länger auf Verbrenner zu setzen als in Europa. Im mit großzügigen Lithiumvorkommen ausgestatteten Argentinien werde bereits eine Umstellung auf E-Mobilität verfolgt.

2022 June 2, Josa Zeitlinger, “Handelsabkommen zwischen EU und Südamerika: Freie Bahn für Verbrenner”, in Die Tageszeitung: taz, →ISSN:


Wilhelmstraße

de-proper noun

Wilhelmstraße f (proper noun, genitive Wilhelmstraße)

→ English: Wilhelmstrasse

Frederick William I of Prussia
de:Wilhelmstraße (Berlin-Mitte)

From Wilhelm + Straße (“street”), named after Frederick William I of Prussia in 1740.

Für die Weimarer Demokratie war es jedoch ein Pyrrhussieg, den die Wilhelmstraße errang.

1983, Ulrich Heinemann, Der verdrängte Niederlage. Politische Öffentlichkeit und Kriegsschuldfrage in der Weimarer Republik, page 256:

Yet for Weimar democracy what the Wilhelmstrasse achieved was a Pyrrhic victory.

(metonymic, historical) the Wilhelmstrasse, the German Foreign Office before 1945


Bendlerblock

Bendlerblock m (proper noun, strong, genitive Bendlerblocks)

Bendlerblocks (genitive)
Bendlerblock (nominative singular)
Bendlerblocks (genitive singular)
Bendlerblock (dative singular)
Bendlerblock (accusative singular)

From Bendler + Block, from its location on Bendlerstraße (now Stauffenbergstraße ), named after local politician Johann Christoph Bendler (1789–1873).

named-after

Selbstkritische Töne waren unmittelbar nicht zu vernehmen aus dem Bendlerblock, den Lambrecht in denkbar bewegten Zeiten verlassen wird.

2023 January 16, Sebastian Huld, “Lambrecht wählt das Ende mit Schrecken”, in NTV:

(informal, metonymic, German politics) the Federal Ministry of Defence


Blauhelm

de-noun

Blauhelm m (strong, genitive Blauhelmes or Blauhelms, plural Blauhelme)

Blauhelmes (genitive)
Blauhelms (genitive)
Blauhelme (plural)
Blauhelm (nominative singular)
Blauhelme (definite nominative plural)
Blauhelmes (genitive singular)
Blauhelms (genitive singular)
Blauhelme (definite genitive plural)
Blauhelm (dative singular)
Blauhelme (dative singular)
Blauhelmen (dative definite plural)
Blauhelm (accusative singular)
Blauhelme (accusative definite plural)

(metonymic) blue beret (soldier or civilian employee of a UN peacekeeping mission)


Schulbank

Schulbank f (genitive Schulbank, plural Schulbänke)

Schulbank (genitive)
Schulbänke (plural)
Schulbank (nominative singular)
Schulbänke (definite nominative plural)
Schulbank (genitive singular)
Schulbänke (definite genitive plural)
Schulbank (dative singular)
Schulbänken (dative definite plural)
Schulbank (accusative singular)
Schulbänke (accusative definite plural)


Raufaser

Raufaser f (genitive Raufaser, plural (uncommon) Raufasern)

Raufaser (genitive)
Raufasern (plural uncommon)
Raufaser (nominative singular)
Raufasern (definite nominative plural)
Raufaser (genitive singular)
Raufasern (definite genitive plural)
Raufaser (dative singular)
Raufasern (dative definite plural)
Raufaser (accusative singular)
Raufasern (accusative definite plural)
Rauhfaser (alternative)

/ˈʁaʊ̯faːzɐ/

From rau (“coarse”) + Faser (“fibre”), invented as Rauhfaser in the late 19th century by German pharmacist Hugo Erfurt, and popularized in the 1920s Bauhaus movement.

Glatte Wände sehen alles und verzeihen nichts. So hat sich eine weitere Entwicklung aufgetan, die den Tod der Raufaser kompensieren soll.

2012 February 7, Natalie Tenberg, “Du bist hässlich, aber unkompliziert”, in Die Tageszeitung: taz, →ISSN:

Ich erschlage das Biest mit einem Rupi-Kaur-Gedichtband, Blut auf Raufaser, meins, ihrs. Der Mensch ist schlecht, die Welt geht unter. Und schuld ist allein die Mücke.

2021 July 11, Lin Hierse, “7 Dinge, die uns den Sommer vermiesen: Cruel Summer”, in Die Tageszeitung: taz, →ISSN:

(metonymic) ellipsis of Raufasertapete (“ingrain wallpaper”)


Dönermann

Dönermann m (strong, genitive Dönermannes or Dönermanns, plural Dönermänner, feminine (for the person, rare) Dönerfrau)

Dönermannes (genitive)
Dönermanns (genitive)
Dönermänner (plural)
Dönerfrau (feminine rare)
Dönermann (nominative singular)
Dönermänner (definite nominative plural)
Dönermannes (genitive singular)
Dönermanns (genitive singular)
Dönermänner (definite genitive plural)
Dönermann (dative singular)
Dönermanne (dative singular)
Dönermännern (dative definite plural)
Dönermann (accusative singular)
Dönermänner (accusative definite plural)

(Germany, metonymic, colloquial) a snack bar in which doner kebab is sold