schmähen

German

Etymology

From Middle High German smæhen, from Old High German smāhen, from Proto-Germanic *smēhijaną (“to reduce; belittle; despise”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃmɛː.ən/ (standard; used naturally in western Germany and Switzerland)
• IPA^(key): /ˈʃmeː.ən/ (overall more common; particularly northern and eastern regions)

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: schmä‧hen

Verb

1. To revile; mock; verbally abuse
2. To blaspheme

Related terms

• Schmach
• Schmäh

References

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