Geiß

See also: geiss, Geiss, and géiss

German

Alternative forms

Etymology

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

Cognate with Dutch geit, English goat, Danish ged, Icelandic geit, Swedish get, Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌹𐍄𐍃 (gaits); and with Latin haedus (“kid”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɡaɪ̯s/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪ̯s

Noun

Geiß f (genitive Geiß, plural Geißen, diminutive Geißlein n)

  1. (regional) goat (species)
    Synonym: Ziege
  2. (regional) she-goat
    Synonyms: Zicke, Ziege
    Antonyms: Geißbock, Ziegenbock
  3. female roe deer
    Synonym: Ricke
    Antonym: Rehbock

Usage notes

  • In standard German, the word is now widely restricted to southern Germany and Austria, although many dialects in northern and central Germany have also traditionally used Geiß or cognates thereof (compare Dutch geit). The derivative Geißbock (“billy goat”) remains somewhat more widespread than Geiß itself.

Declension

Declension of Geiß [feminine]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative eine die Geiß die Geißen
genitive einer der Geiß der Geißen
dative einer der Geiß den Geißen
accusative eine die Geiß die Geißen

Derived terms

See also

Further reading

  • “Geiß” in Duden online
  • “Geiß” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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