Efeu

German

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle High German ephöu, from Old High German ebhouwi, derived through popular association with houwi (“hay”) from older ebah. Possibly from Proto-Germanic *ibahs, from Proto-Indo-European *(h₁)ebʰ-. The spelling and pronunciation in modern German used to be Epheu [ˈeːpˌhɔʏ̯]. The contemporary -f- is a spelling pronunciation that emanated from the North, reinforced by forms in Central and Low German dialects with original -f- (compare Middle Low German īflōf, ifflōf, Ripuarian Effche). Akin to English ivy.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈeːfɔʏ̯/
  • Audio(file)

Noun

Efeu m or (uncommon) n (strong, genitive Efeus, no plural)

  1. ivy

Declension
Declension of Efeu [sg-only, masculine // neuter (uncommon), strong]
singular
indef. def. noun
nominative ein der, das Efeu
genitive eines des Efeus
dative einem dem Efeu
accusative einen, ein den, das Efeu

Further reading
  • “Efeu” in Duden online
  • “Efeu” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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