Mitgift
German
Etymology
From Middle High German mitegift (“dowry”). Analysable as mit + Gift, the latter word here has the sense “gift; donation”.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈmɪtˌɡɪft/
Noun
Mitgift f (genitive Mitgift, plural Mitgiften)
- dowry
Usage notes
- In German-speaking Europe, Mitgift is usually understood to be a gift to the bride by her own family, typically in the form of household goods (Aussteuer), but sometimes also money. These things become the property of the married couple after the wedding.
- Chiefly when referring to other cultures, the word can also mean a payment by the family of the bride to that of the groom, or similar premarital financial transactions.
Declension
Declension of Mitgift
singular | plural | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
indef. | def. | noun | def. | noun | |
nominative | eine | die | Mitgift | die | Mitgiften |
genitive | einer | der | Mitgift | der | Mitgiften |
dative | einer | der | Mitgift | den | Mitgiften |
accusative | eine | die | Mitgift | die | Mitgiften |
Synonyms
- Aussteuer
- Heiratsgut (sometimes dated)
See also
- Brautgeld
Further reading
- Mitgift in Duden online