Spitzbergen

English

Etymology

From German Spitzbergen, a Germanised spelling of Dutch Spitsbergen.

Proper noun

Spitzbergen

1. (dated) Alternative spelling of Spitsbergen

German

Etymology

From Dutch Spitsbergen, see there for more. Analysable as spitz (“pointed, pointy”) +‎ Berge(n) (“mountains”). The original Dutch has the same meaning.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃpɪtsˈbɛrɡən/

• Audio

  (file)

Proper noun

Spitzbergen n (proper noun, strong, genitive Spitzbergens)

1. Svalbard; Spitsbergen (archipelago)
2. Spitsbergen; West Spitsbergen (largest island of this archipelago)

Usage notes

• Outside of official use, German Spitzbergen remains the predominant word for both senses.

Synonyms

• (archipelago): Svalbard
• (island): West-Spitzbergen

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• Spitsbergen

Proper noun

Spitzbergen f

1. Spitsbergen (an island in Svalbard, Norway)