die Neffe
noun · /ˈnɛfə/ ·Etymology
From Middle High German neve, from Old High German nefo, nevo, from Proto-West Germanic *nefō, from Proto-Germanic *nefô. Cognate with Dutch neef, obsolete English neve. Further from Proto-Indo-European *népōts, whence English nephew, which see for more. The form with -ff- is irregular and was spread by Luther. The development -v- → -ff- before a sonorant (here the n of the inflected forms) is also found in Early Modern German Offen, Freffel for Ofen, Frevel, and frequently in Low German; compare Middle Low German effen, gaffel, neffel, neffen for even, gavel, nevel, neven (the last in the sense of “next to”).
Translation
-
nephew (son of one's sibling or sibling-in-law)
masculine, weak
Mein Neffe war daran gewöhnt, lange aufzubleiben.
My nephew was accustomed to sitting up late.
Ein Neffe ist der Sohn eines Bruders oder einer Schwester.
A nephew is a son of one's brother or sister.
John ist mein Neffe.
John is my nephew.
- another male relative, especially a grandson, but also a cousin etc. masculine, obsolete, weak
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | Neffe | Neffen |
| Accusative | Neffen | Neffen |
| Dative | Neffen | Neffen |
| Genitive | Neffen | Neffen |