Kerl

See also: kerl

German

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle Low German kerl, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Germanic *karilaz, cognate with (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old High German karal, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Germanic *karlaz, a variant of *karilaz. Akin to Dutch kerel, English churl, Old Norse and Danish karl.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɛʁl/, [kɛʁl], [kɛɐ̯l]

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Kerl m (genitive Kerls, plural Kerle or Kerls, diminutive Kerlchen n)

1. fellow, guy, chap, bloke
2. (obsolete) freeman

Usage notes

• The normal plural is Kerle.
• The plural Kerls is widely restricted to northern Germany. Compare a well-known former Prussian guard regiment called Lange Kerls (“tall fellows”).

Derived terms

• Dreckskerl
• Ker (regional)
• Mistkerl
• Scheißkerl

See also

• Typ m

Further reading

• “Kerl” in Duden online

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Hunsrik

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kʰɛl/

Noun

Kerl m (plural Kerle)

1. fellow, guy, chap, bloke, man

   Wer is dart där Kerl?

   Who is that guy?

   • 1874, Peter Joseph Rottmann, Gedichte in Hunsrücker Mundart, p. 3:

     Wer sall meich dann bei die Spielleit fehre, / Wann eich naunder meine Kerl verleere? / Geh, eich wullt, datt Deich der Deiwel hätt!

Further reading

• Online Hunsrik Dictionary

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Old Frisian

Proper noun

Kerl

1. Charles