Pfand

German

Etymology

From Middle High German phant, from Old High German phant. Only found in continental Germanic languages (→ Dutch pand) and of unresolved origin, various Latin sources have been suggested: Latin pāctum (“agreement”) under the supposition of a Low Latin *pantum from *panctum, or a pondus (“weight”) borrowed so early that it preceded the change from Indo-European o to a in Germanic.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /pfant/ (standard)
  • IPA(key): /fant/ (northern Germany, central Germany)
  • Audio(file)
  • Rhymes: -ant
  • Homophone: fand (regional)

Noun

Pfand n or m (genitive Pfandes or Pfands, plural Pfänder)

  1. pawn
  2. pledge
  3. can or bottle deposit

Usage notes

The commonly used gender for the noun is neuter in Germany and masculine in Austria.

Declension
Declension of Pfand
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein das Pfand die Pfänder
genitive eines des Pfandes,
Pfands		 der Pfänder
dative einem dem Pfand,
Pfande1		 den Pfändern
accusative ein das Pfand die Pfänder
1Now uncommon, see notes
Declension of Pfand
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Pfand die Pfänder
genitive eines des Pfandes,
Pfands		 der Pfänder
dative einem dem Pfand,
Pfande1		 den Pfändern
accusative einen den Pfand die Pfänder
1Now uncommon, see notes

Further reading
  • “Pfand” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • Pfand in Duden online
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