Efeu

German

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Efeu

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Alternative forms

• Epheu (superseded)

Etymology

From Middle High German ephöu, from Old High German ebhouwi, derived through popular association with houwi (“hay”) from older ebah. Possibly from Proto-Germanic *ibahs, from Proto-Indo-European *(h₁)ebʰ-. The spelling and pronunciation in modern German used to be Epheu [ˈeːpˌhɔʏ̯]. The contemporary -f- is a spelling pronunciation that emanated from the North, reinforced by forms in Central and Low German dialects with original -f- (compare Middle Low German īflōf, ifflōf, Ripuarian Effche). Akin to English ivy.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈeːfɔʏ̯/

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

Noun

Efeu m or (uncommon) n (strong, genitive Efeus, no plural)

1. ivy

Declension

Declension of Efeu [sg-only, masculine // neuter (uncommon), strong]

	singular
	indef.	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der, das	Efeu
genitive	eines	des	Efeus
dative	einem	dem	Efeu
accusative	einen, ein	den, das	Efeu

Descendants

• → Silesian: efoj, efōj, efůj (Steuer's Silesian Alphabet)

Further reading

• “Efeu” in Duden online
• “Efeu” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache