Gauner

See also: gauner

German

Etymology

From thieves’ cant (Rotwelsch) Jauner, Joner (“gambler, cardsharp”), attested ca. 1500 alongside the verb jonen. Further usually derived from Yiddish יוון (Yoven/Yovon, “Greece”), from Hebrew יָוָן (yāwān), because Greeks were said to be skilful cardsharps (compare French Grec in this sense). The anlaut is due to hypercorrection based on the widespread Central German pronunciation of initial g- as /j/. The form was established by Lessing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡaʊ̯nər/, [ˈɡaʊ̯.nɐ]

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Gauner m (strong, genitive Gauners, plural Gauner, feminine Gaunerin)

1. (informal) petty thief, crook, racketeer

   Synonyms: Ganove, Halunke, Kleinkrimineller

2. (informal) sly, cunning person

   Synonyms: Schlitzohr, Schlawiner

Declension

Declension of Gauner [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Gauner	die	Gauner
genitive	eines	des	Gauners	der	Gauner
dative	einem	dem	Gauner	den	Gaunern
accusative	einen	den	Gauner	die	Gauner

Derived terms

• Gaunerei
• gaunern, ergaunern

See also

• Betrüger
• Schwindler

Further reading

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