Griesgram

German

Etymology

From Middle High German grisgramen (“to grind one’s teeth”), from Old High German grisgramōn (“to grind one’s teeth”). Later reanalyzed as a compound gries (“grey”) +‎ Gram (“grief”), which influenced the semantic development.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡʁiːsˌɡʁaːm/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

Griesgram m (strong, genitive Griesgrames or Griesgrams, plural Griesgrame)

1. grumpy, ill-tempered person

   Synonym: Bärbeiß

Declension

Declension of Griesgram [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Griesgram	die	Griesgrame
genitive	eines	des	Griesgrames, Griesgrams	der	Griesgrame
dative	einem	dem	Griesgram, Griesgrame1	den	Griesgramen
accusative	einen	den	Griesgram	die	Griesgrame

¹Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms

• griesgrämig

See also

• Nörgler
• Knörzerich
• Miesmacher
• Spielverderber
• beleidigte Leberwurst
• grantig
• mürrisch
• sauertöpfig

Further reading

• “Griesgram” in Duden online