seufzen

German

Etymology

From Middle High German siufzen, alteration of sūften, siuften, based on onomatopoeic verbs in -zen (compare ächzen etc.). Further from Old High German sūftōn, derived from sūfan (“to slurp, drink”), whence German saufen. Cognate with Dutch zuchten.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈzɔʏ̯ftsən/, [ˈzɔø̯f.t͡sn̩]

• Audio:

  (file)

Verb

1. (intransitive) to sigh (to exhale audibly, usually accompanied by a deep, nasal sound of the voice)

Derived terms

• Seufzen
• Seufzer

Further reading

• “seufzen” in Duden online