schnauben
German
Etymology
From Middle High German snūben, which is part of a group of interrelated forms (see below). The verb is originally weak, but has produced secondary strong forms, as has the (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Dutch cognate snuiven. Compare also the German variant schnaufen.
Pronunciation
Verb
- (intransitive) to snort, to pant (to breathe loudly)
Usage notes
- The verb schnauben is most often used referring either to animals, particularly horses, or to someone’s snorting out of anger. The related form schnaufen is more common otherwise (although this distinction is not clear-cut).
- Only the weak conjugation is common today. The strong forms are widely obsolete.
Conjugation
- Weak conjugation
- Strong conjugation (archaic)
Related terms
Further reading
- “schnauben” in Duden online