Geiß

See also: Geiss and géiss

German

Alternative forms
  • Geiss (Switzerland, Liechtenstein)

Etymology

From Old High German geiz, from Proto-Germanic *gaits, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰayd-. Cognate with Dutch geit, English goat, Danish ged, Icelandic geit, Swedish get, Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌹𐍄𐍃 (gaits); and with Latin haedus (“kid”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ɡaɪ̯s/
  • Audio(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪ̯s

Noun

Geiß f (genitive Geiß, plural Geißen, diminutive Geißlein n)

  1. (regional) goat (species)
    Synonym: Ziege
  2. (regional) she-goat
    Synonyms: Zicke, Ziege
    Antonym: Ziegenbock
  3. female roe deer
    Synonym: Ricke
    Antonym: Rehbock

Usage notes

In standard German, the word is now widely restricted to southern Germany and Austria, although many dialects in northern and central Germany have also traditionally used Geiß or cognates thereof (compare Dutch geit). The derivative Geißbock (“billy goat”) remains somewhat more widespread than Geiß itself.

Declension
Declension of Geiß
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative eine die Geiß die Geißen
genitive einer der Geiß der Geißen
dative einer der Geiß den Geißen
accusative eine die Geiß die Geißen

Derived terms

See also

Further reading
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