Single

See also: single

German

Etymology

In all senses from English single, from Old French, from Latin singulus. The pronunciation without /ɡ/ because German allows the cluster /ŋɡ/ only before full vowels, not before /ə/. The feminine gender of the musical sense probably after Schallplatte.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɪŋəl/, [ˈsɪŋl̩]
• IPA^(key): /ˈzɪŋəl/ (dated)

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Single f (genitive Single, plural Singles)

1. (music) single (45rpm vinyl record)
2. (music) single (song from an album, released individually)

Noun

Single m (genitive Single, plural Singles or Single)

1. single; singleton (someone who is not involved in a stable romantic relationship)

Usage notes

• Not used in German to mean “unmarried”. For that, see ledig, unverheiratet (and nominalisations thereof). Single also generally implies an openness for romantic or sexual relations, so it would not commonly be used of someone living in celibacy, or of a widow(er) in their 80s. The usual word for “living alone without a family” is alleinstehend.
• The normal plural is Singles. Chiefly colloquially it may also be unchanged Single. Note, however, that the dative plural den Singlen, while unproblematic in speech, is awkward in writing (compare the same in the word Bachelor).