Bube

German

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle High German buobe (“knave”), from Old High German Buobo, a male name of unknown meaning. Cognate with Dutch boef (“villain”). Probably also related to boy; see there for more.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /buːbə/
  • Audio(file)

Noun

Bube m (genitive Buben, plural Buben, diminutive Bübchen n or Büblein n or Bübelein n or Bübele n)

  1. knave; jack (playing card)
  2. (regional, southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland) boy; lad
  3. (regional, northern and central Germany) rogue; villain; naughty boy

Usage notes
  • In northern and central Germany, the word is now used almost exclusively for the playing card. The southern sense “boy” is understood but not used. The older regional sense “rogue, villain” has become chiefly restricted to the diminutive Bübchen or to fixed combinations and compounds (böser Bube, Bubenstreich, Spitzbube, etc.).

Declension
Declension of Bube
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Bube die Buben
genitive eines des Buben der Buben
dative einem dem Buben den Buben
accusative einen den Buben die Buben

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Descendants

Further reading
  • Bube in Duden online
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