Pumpernickel

See also: pumpernickel

German

Etymology

17th century, from Westphalian Low German Pumpernickel (literally “farting Nicholas”), originally attested in the sense “coarse, clumsy bloke”. From pumpern (“to fart”) + Nickel (diminutive of Nikolaus). The use for the bread alludes to its being coarse-ground and particularly its flatulent effect. It was originally pejorative or at least humorous; the normal Westphalian word is Schwarzbrot (Low German Schwattbraut).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpʊmpərˌnɪkəl/, [ˈpʊm.pɐˌnɪ.kl̩]

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Pumpernickel m or n (strong, genitive Pumpernickels, plural Pumpernickel)

1. a type of sourdough rye bread with a strong, sweetish flavor; coarse, brittle, and dark in color; native to north-western Germany, especially Westphalia

   Synonym: (north-western Germany) Schwarzbrot

Declension

Declension of Pumpernickel [masculine // neuter, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der, das	Pumpernickel	die	Pumpernickel
genitive	eines	des	Pumpernickels	der	Pumpernickel
dative	einem	dem	Pumpernickel	den	Pumpernickeln
accusative	einen, ein	den, das	Pumpernickel	die	Pumpernickel

Related terms

• Pimpf
• Nikolaus, Niklas

Descendants

• → English: pumpernickel

Further reading

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