Mensch

== Bavarian == === Etymology === From Middle High German mensche, mensch, from Old High German mennisko, a substantivization of the adjective mennisk, from Proto-West Germanic *mannisk, from Proto-Germanic *manniskaz (“human”), from Proto-Germanic *mann- (“human, man”). Cognates include German Mensch, Yiddish מענטש (mentsh), Dutch mens, English mannish, Old Norse mennskr, Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐌽𐌽𐌹𐍃𐌺𐍃 (mannisks). The secondary usage meaning "girl" or "woman" derives via an archaic sense of "servant", subsequently narrowed specifically to serving girls. The supposed corruption of Mädchen (“girl”) to Mensch is a folk etymology, but did indirectly influence the gender of des Mensch ("the girl"), which is neuter in this usage (as opposed to the masculine da Mensch ("the person")). === Noun === Mensch m (accusative Menschen or Mensch'n, plural Menschen or Mensch'n or Menschn) human, human being, man === Noun === Mensch n (plural Menscher, diminutive Menscherl) female person, girl, woman ==== Derived terms ==== Menscherer === Related terms === Herrenmensch == German == === Etymology === From Middle High German mensche, mensch, from Old High German mennisko, a substantivization of the adjective mennisk, from Proto-West Germanic *mannisk, from Proto-Germanic *manniskaz (“human”), from Proto-Germanic *mann- (“human, man”). Compare Yiddish מענטש (mentsh), Dutch mens, Danish menneske, Swedish människa, all with the primary sense of “person” or “human being”. The dialectal usage meaning "girl" or "woman" derives via an archaic sense of "servant", subsequently narrowed specifically to serving girls. The supposed corruption of Mädchen (“girl”) to Mensch is a folk etymology, but did indirectly influence the gender of das Mensch ("the girl"), which is neuter in dialectal usage (as opposed to the masculine der Mensch ("the person") in Standard German). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /mɛnʃ/, [mɛnʃ], [mɛnt͡ʃ] Homophone: mensch === Noun === Mensch m (weak, genitive Menschen, plural Menschen, diminutive Menschchen n or Menschlein n, feminine Mensch or Menschin) human, human being, person, man ==== Usage notes ==== Mensch is a weak noun in the standard language but is part of a group of nouns with a tendency to be strong colloquially, so one might hear dem Mensch instead of dem Menschen. In older literature, the genitive des Menschens occurs. The feminine die Menschin is very rare in actual use; most uses are jocular. ==== Declension ==== ==== Hyponyms ==== Bub m, Bube m, Junge m; Mädchen n Mann m; Frau f ==== Hyponyms ==== ==== Derived terms ==== === Noun === Mensch n (strong, genitive Mensches or Menschs, plural Menscher) (dialectal, especially Southern Germany, Austria, now often derogatory) woman ==== Usage notes ==== In older language a neutral term, then applied upon servants and dismissively as “baggage, broad”. ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== Fraumensch n, Frauenmensch n, Frauensmensch Weibsmensch n === Interjection === Mensch man! rah! ==== Synonyms ==== Mann, Mannomann (mannomann), manno (Manno), menno, krass === Further reading === “Mensch”, in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache‎[1] (in German) “Mensch (Frau)” in Duden online “Mensch (Lebewesen, Individuum)” in Duden online “Mensch” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon Friedrich Kluge (1883), “Mensch”, in John Francis Davis, transl., Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, published 1891 “Mensch” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961. == Hunsrik == === Etymology === From Middle High German mensche, mensch, from Old High German mennisko, a substantivization of the adjective mennisk, from man. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈmɛnʃ/ Rhymes: -ɛnʃ Syllabification: Mensch === Noun === Mensch m (plural Mensche) human, human being, person ==== Derived terms ==== === Further reading === Online Hunsrik Dictionary == Plautdietsch == === Etymology === From Middle Low German mensche, minsche, from Old Saxon mennisk, mennisko, from Proto-West Germanic *mannisk, from Proto-Germanic *manniskaz. === Noun === Mensch m (plural Menschen) human, human being, person