Siebenschläfer

German

Etymology

From Middle High German siben slāfære, referring to the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus. Univerbation since the 15th century. Use for “one who sleeps a lot” since the 17th century. The biological sense since the 18th century because of the animal's hibernation, which may last more than seven months.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈziːbənˌʃlɛːfər/, [ˈziː.bm̩ˌʃlɛː.fɐ], [-ˌʃleː-]
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

Siebenschläfer m (strong, genitive Siebenschläfers, plural Siebenschläfer, feminine Siebenschläferin)

  1. (biology) edible dormouse
  2. (Christianity, mythology) (one of) the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus
  3. (Christianity, also meteorology) Seven Sleepers Day, June 27
    Synonym: Siebenschläfertag
  4. (figurative) sleepyhead, one who sleeps a lot or rises late
    Synonyms: Schlafmütze, Langschläfer

Declension

Declension of Siebenschläfer [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Siebenschläfer die Siebenschläfer
genitive eines des Siebenschläfers der Siebenschläfer
dative einem dem Siebenschläfer den Siebenschläfern
accusative einen den Siebenschläfer die Siebenschläfer

Further reading

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