Taugenichts

== German == === Etymology === From taugen (“to be of use”) +‎ nichts (“nothing”), alteration of older tügenicht (1548), itself perhaps after Middle Low German dögenicht (1514); compare Dutch deugniet (1539). The two earliest High German attestations are apparently in authors from the Low German borderland: 1548 in Burkard Waldis from Allendorf (who also lived in Low German Riga), and 1563 in Joachim Westphal from the area of Mansfeld-Südharz. Sometimes considered an eventual loan translation of French vaurien, which seems to be later, however (1558 ?). Generally, the chronological evidence must be valued with caution in an informal word such as this. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈtaʊ̯ɡənɪçts/ === Noun === Taugenichts m (strong, genitive Taugenichts or Taugenichtses, plural Taugenichtse) (derogatory, perhaps dated) good-for-nothing Synonyms: (regional) Hallodri, Herumtreiber, Nichtsnutz, (regional) Krattler, Tunichtgut ==== Declension ==== ==== Descendants ==== Yiddish: טויגעניכטס (toygenikhts) === Further reading === “Taugenichts” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache “Taugenichts” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.