pfeifen

See also: Pfeifen

German

Etymology

From Middle High German pfīfen, Old High German phīfōn, from onomatopoeic Latin pīpāre.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈpfaɪ̯fən/, [ˈpfaɪ̯fən], [pfaɪ̯fɱ̩] (standard)
  • IPA(key): /ˈfaɪ̯fən/ (most speakers in northern and central Germany)
  • (file)

Verb

pfeifen (class 1 strong, third-person singular simple present pfeift, past tense pfiff, past participle gepfiffen, past subjunctive pfiffe, auxiliary haben)

  1. (intransitive or transitive) to whistle (with one's mouth or a whistle)
    Synonym: flöten (regional)
    Hör auf zu pfeifen!Stop whistling!
    Er pfeift ein Liedchen.He's whistling a song.
  2. (intransitive or transitive, sports) to act as referee
    Synonym: flöten (regional)
    Der Schiedsrichter pfeift sehr gut.The referee is doing a great job.
    Wer pfeift das Spiel?Who's refereeing the game?
  3. (colloquial, transitive with auf) to be uninterested (in something or someone); to ignore; not to give a damn
    Synonym: foutieren (Switzerland)
    Darauf pfeif ich!I don't care one bit about that!

Conjugation

Further reading

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