Pfosten

German

Etymology

From Middle High German [Term?], from Old High German pfost, from Proto-West Germanic *post (“post, pedestal”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpfɔstən/, [ˈpfɔstən], [ˈpfɔstn̩] (standard)
• IPA^(key): /ˈfɔstən/ (northern Germany, central Germany)

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔstən, -ɔstn̩

Noun

Pfosten m (strong, genitive Pfostens, plural Pfosten or Pfösten)

1. post; pillar (long, fairly thick piece of wood or metal used to stabilise something)
2. (less common) post; pole; pale (such an object used for purposes other than stabilisation)

   Synonyms: Pfahl, Pflock, Mast

3. (sports) goalpost

   Synonym: Torpfosten

4. (architecture) mullion

Usage notes

• The normal plural is unchanged Pfosten.
• The plural Pfösten is regional and restricted to southern Germany and Austria. It is rarely seen in standard usage.

Declension

Declension of Pfosten [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Pfosten	die	Pfosten, Pfösten
genitive	eines	des	Pfostens	der	Pfosten, Pfösten
dative	einem	dem	Pfosten	den	Pfosten, Pfösten
accusative	einen	den	Pfosten	die	Pfosten, Pfösten

Related terms

• Absperrpfosten, Begrenzungspfosten, Holzpfosten, Metallpfosten, Leitpfosten, Rohrpfosten, Straßenpfosten, Treppenpfosten (“newel”), Vollpfosten, Zaunpfosten

Further reading

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