Furcht

German

Alternative forms

• Forcht (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle High German vorht, vorhte, from Old High German forhta, forahta, from Proto-Germanic *furhtō (“fear”), from Proto-Indo-European *pr̥k- (“to fear”). The modern vowel -u- is due to influence by the related verb fürchten. Cognate with obsolete Dutch vrucht (still in godsvrucht), Middle Low German vruchte. Also closely related with English fright, though this is from a different stem (Proto-Germanic *furhtį̄).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fʊrçt/, [fʊʁçt], [fʊɐ̯çt]

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Furcht f (genitive Furcht, plural Fürchte)

1. fear; fright; anxiety

Usage notes

• The plural Fürchte is rare and may be regarded as incorrect by many speakers. Befürchtungen tends to be used instead.
• See Angst for notes on the distinction between Furcht and this (widely synonymous) word.

Derived terms

Derived terms

• Ehrfurcht
• furchtbar
• furchteinflößend

• furchterregend
• furchtlos
• furchtsam

See also

• Angst
• Schreck, Schrecken

Further reading

• “Furcht” in Duden online