väterlich

German

Etymology

From Middle High German veterlich, vaterlich, from Old High German faterlīh, from Proto-Germanic *fadurlīkaz, equivalent to Vater +‎ -lich. Cognate with English fatherly, Dutch vaderlijk.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɛːtɐˌlɪç/, [ˈfɛːtʰɐˌlɪç] (standard; used naturally in western Germany and Switzerland)
• IPA^(key): /ˈfeːtɐˌlɪç/, [ˈfeːtʰɐˌlɪç] (overall more common; particularly northern and eastern regions)

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Vä‧ter‧lich

Adjective

väterlich (comparative väterlicher, superlative am väterlichsten)

1. fatherly
2. paternal

Derived terms

• großväterlich
• stiefväterlich
• unväterlich (rare, nicht väterlich)
• väterlicherseits
• väterlicherweise
• Väterlichkeit

See also

• mütterlich

Further reading

• “väterlich” in Duden online