Inselaffe

German

Etymology

From Insel +‎ Affe, literally “island monkey”. The word Affe is used in German both for boorish, rowdy persons and for affected, hoity-toity persons (compare affig, Lackaffe, indirectly also affektiert). Both of these qualities are sometimes associated with (different classes of) English people.

Pronunciation

  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -afə

Noun

Inselaffe m (weak, genitive Inselaffen, plural Inselaffen)

  1. (derogatory, chiefly neologism) an English person

Usage notes

  • The word is now widely understood, but there is little or no attested use before circa 1990.

Declension

Declension of Inselaffe [masculine, weak]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Inselaffe die Inselaffen
genitive eines des Inselaffen der Inselaffen
dative einem dem Inselaffen den Inselaffen
accusative einen den Inselaffen die Inselaffen

See also

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