Libelle

See also: libelle and libellé

German

Etymology

From New Latin lībellula, coined by Carl von Linné after lībella (“carpenter's level”), because of the insect's ability to stay level when hovering. German Libelle is a shortened form, in part after the underlying Latin noun. Doublet of Niveau and Level.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /liˈbɛlə/

• Audio (Austria):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Li‧bel‧le

Noun

Libelle f (genitive Libelle, plural Libellen)

1. dragonfly

   Synonym: (dated) Wasserjungfer

Declension

Declension of Libelle [feminine]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	eine	die	Libelle	die	Libellen
genitive	einer	der	Libelle	der	Libellen
dative	einer	der	Libelle	den	Libellen
accusative	eine	die	Libelle	die	Libellen

Related terms

• Edellibelle, Großlibelle, Heidelibelle, Kleinlibelle, Segellibelle, Zwerglibelle
• Libellenart, Libellenflügel

Further reading

• “Libelle” in Duden online
• “Libelle” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache