Schlucht

German

Etymology

There are two etymological paths whose accuracy and possible interrelation are not conclusively established.

  • Schlucht is most readily explained as a Middle Low German form of the archaic High German equivalent Schluft, with the Low German development of -ft- → -cht- (cf. Nichte). Schluft pertains to the verb schliefen (“to slip, to move through”). This etymology is favoured by most authorities, although they seem to be unable to find attestations for the Middle Low German word.
  • There is an Upper German attestation of Middle High German wazzersluht or possibly -slůht (“water-filled ditch”), which is in line with similar words in modern Upper German dialects. Some of these words also mean “cut-off branch” and may pertain to schlagen (“to hew”). The sense of “ditch” might be derived from “branch”.

Compare Danish slug (“sluice”), Old Norse slok (“gully, channel”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ʃlʊχt/, /ʃlʊxt/
  • Audio(file)
  • Rhymes: -ʊχt, -ʊxt

Noun

Schlucht f (genitive Schlucht, plural Schluchten or (poetic) Schlüchte)

  1. canyon, chasm, gorge, ravine

Declension
Declension of Schlucht [feminine]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative eine die Schlucht die Schluchten, Schlüchte1
genitive einer der Schlucht der Schluchten, Schlüchte1
dative einer der Schlucht den Schluchten, Schlüchten1
accusative eine die Schlucht die Schluchten, Schlüchte1

1Poetic.

Derived terms

Further reading

Plautdietsch

Noun

Schlucht f (plural Schluchten)

  1. canyon, gorge, ravine
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