Plage

See also: plage and plagë

German

Etymology

From early Middle High German plāge, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin plāga (“blow, wound”). The word was originally chiefly Central German, therefore sometimes secondarily adapted to the Upper German consonantism as (later) Middle High German pflāge, which form did not last, however. More at plague.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈplaːɡə/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Plage f (genitive Plage, plural Plagen)

1. plague (affliction or hardship, particularly when seen as a divine punishment)

   Sie ertrug alle Plagen des Krieges mit großer Tapferkeit.

   She endured all hardships of the war with great bravery.

   Manche Menschen erachten Aids als Plage für die Unzüchtigen.

   Some people consider AIDS to be a plague for the lewd.

2. plague; epidemic

   In Teilen des Landes ist eine Mückenplage ausgebrochen.

   A mosquito plague has broken out in parts of the country.

3. (informal) nuisance; annoyance; something annoying

   Diese neuen Glühbirnen sind echt ’ne Plage.

   These new light bulbs are really annoying.

Usage notes

• German Plage does not refer specifically to the bubonic plague, for which use Pest.

Synonyms

• (epidemic): Seuche; Epidemie
• (annoyance): Zumutung

Related terms

• plagen
• Plackerei

Further reading

• “Plage” in Duden online

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Luxembourgish

Etymology

From French plage.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /plaːʃ/

Noun

Plage f (plural Plagen)

1. beach