nölen

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search
See also: Nolen

German[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Low German nölen, whence also Dutch neulen, Danish nøle. The sense "gripe" is derived from "speak slowly or lengthily", itself perhaps from "dawdle" (though it might be the other way round). Further origin uncertain, but usually considered onomatopoeic.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈnøːlən/, [ˈnøː.l̩n], [-lən]
  • (file)

Verb[edit]

nölen (weak, third-person singular present nölt, past tense nölte, past participle genölt, auxiliary haben)

  1. to gripe, whinge (complain in a whining tone)
  2. (Northern Germany, perhaps dated) to dawdle (be slow, waste time)
    Synonyms: trödeln, (regional) klüngeln

Conjugation[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Further reading[edit]

  • nölen” in Duden online
  • nölen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache