Single
See also: single
German
Etymology
In all senses from English single, from Old French, from Latin singulus. The pronunciation without /ɡ/ because German allows the cluster /ŋɡ/ only before full vowels, not before /ə/. The feminine gender of the musical sense probably after Schallplatte.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈsɪŋəl/, [ˈsɪŋl̩]
- IPA(key): /ˈzɪŋəl/ (dated)
Audio (file)
Noun
Single f (genitive Single, plural Singles)
Declension
Usage notes
- Not used in German to mean “unmarried”. For that, see ledig, unverheiratet (and nominalisations thereof). Single also generally implies an openness for romantic or sexual relations, so it would not commonly be used of someone living in celibacy, or of a widow(er) in their 80s. The usual word for “living alone without a family” is alleinstehend.
- The normal plural is Singles. Chiefly colloquially it may also be unchanged Single. Note, however, that the dative plural den (*)Singlen, while unproblematic in speech, is awkward in writing (compare the same in the word Bachelor).
Declension
Declension of Single
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.