Albtraum
German
Alternative forms
- Alptraum (standard spelling until 1996; still correct, but disfavoured and becoming less common)
Etymology
Alb + Traum, because nightmares in some forms of German folklore are thought to be caused by an elf sitting on one's chest while one slept.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈalptʁaʊ̯m/
Audio (file) Audio (file)
Noun
Albtraum m (genitive Albtraums or Albtraumes, plural Albträume)
- nightmare
- Er leidet an schweren Albträumen.
- He suffers from severe nightmares.
- Synonym: Albdruck
- Er leidet an schweren Albträumen.
Declension
Declension of Albtraum
| singular | plural | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| indef. | def. | noun | def. | noun | |
| nominative | ein | der | Albtraum | die | Albträume |
| genitive | eines | des | Albtraumes, Albtraums | der | Albträume |
| dative | einem | dem | Albtraum, Albtraume1 | den | Albträumen |
| accusative | einen | den | Albtraum | die | Albträume |
1Now uncommon, see notes
Further reading
- Albtraum in Duden online