Tongeren

Dutch

Etymology

• (Gelderland) First attested as tungren in 1025. Etymology uncertain. A compound derivation of Middle Dutch tonge (“sandy ridge, headland”) and haar (“sandy ridge”) is not backed up by the earliest attestations. Perhaps a dative plural of Dutch *tonger (“unknown plant with a bitter taste”). The toponym has no etymological relationship to its Belgian counterpart. Compare Tongerlo and Tungelroy.
• (Noord-Brabant) First attested as tongeren in 1393. Etymology uncertain. Potentially a derivation from the dative plural form of Old Dutch *tonger (“unknown plant with a bitter taste”) or a compound of Middle Dutch tonge (“sandy ridge, headland”) and haar (“sandy ridge”). Compare Tongerlo and Tungelroy.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtɔ.ŋə.rə(n)/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Ton‧ger‧en
• Rhymes: -ɔŋərən

Proper noun

Tongeren n

1. A hamlet in Epe, Gelderland, Netherlands
2. A hamlet in Boxtel, North Brabant, Netherlands

References

• van Berkel, Gerard, Samplonius, Kees (2018) Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard (in Dutch), Mijnbestseller.nl, →ISBN