Schädel

German

Etymology

From Middle High German schedel (“skull”). Further origin uncertain. Borrowing from Middle Low German schêdel (“top of the head, head, skull”), cognate with German Scheitel (“top of the head, parting of the hair”), suggests itself, but is not embraced in most of the literature.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃɛːdəl/, [ˈʃɛː.dəl], [ˈʃɛː.dl̩] (used naturally in western Germany and Switzerland, generally used by professional speakers)
• IPA^(key): /ˈʃeːdəl/ (overall more common; chiefly northern and eastern regions)

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Schädel m (genitive Schädels, plural Schädel)

1. skull
2. (colloquial) a headache, particularly one due to excessive drinking

Derived terms

• Schädel-Hirn-Trauma
• Schädeltrauma
• Schädelvermessung

Further reading

• “Schädel” in Duden online