Efeu

German

Alternative forms

• Epheu (dated)

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle High German ephöu, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old High German ebhouwi, derived through popular association with houwi (“hay”) from older ebah. Possibly from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Germanic *ibahs, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] 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 (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle Low German īflōf, ifflōf, Ripuarian Effche). Akin to English ivy.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈeːfɔʏ̯/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Efeu m or n (genitive Efeus, no plural)

1. ivy

Further reading

• “Efeu” in Duden online