gnaden

See also: Gnaden

German

Etymology

From Middle High German [Term?], from Old High German [Term?].

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡnaːdn̩/

Verb

1. (archaic, with dative) to have mercy on somebody

Usage notes

The only form of this verb still used in contemporary German is the subjunctive gnade in set phrases such as gnade dir Gott! (“May God have mercy upon you!”) or gnade uns Gott! (“May God have mercy upon us all!”) These phrases are commonly used as warnings: Wenn du dich in der Wüste verfährst, dann gnade dir Gott! – “If you lose your way in the desert, then may God have mercy upon you!”

Related terms

• Gnade
• wehe

Further reading

• “gnaden” in Duden online