Siebenschläfer
German
Etymology
From Middle High German siben slāfære, referring to the Seven Sleepers. Univerbation since the 15th century. Use for “one who sleeps a lot” since the 17th century. The biological sense since the 18th century because of the animal's hibernation, which may last more than seven months.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈziːbənˌʃlɛːfər/, [ˈziː.bm̩ˌʃlɛː.fɐ], [-ˌʃleː-]
Audio (file)
Noun
Siebenschläfer m (strong, genitive Siebenschläfers, plural Siebenschläfer, feminine Siebenschläferin)
- (biology) edible dormouse
- (Christianity, mythology) (one of) the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus
- (Christianity, also meteorology) Seven Sleepers Day, June 27
- Synonym: Siebenschläfertag
- (figuratively) sleepyhead, one who sleeps a lot or rises late
- Synonyms: Schlafmütze, Langschläfer
Declension
Declension of Siebenschläfer [masculine, strong]
| singular | plural | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| indef. | def. | noun | def. | noun | |
| nominative | ein | der | Siebenschläfer | die | Siebenschläfer |
| genitive | eines | des | Siebenschläfers | der | Siebenschläfer |
| dative | einem | dem | Siebenschläfer | den | Siebenschläfern |
| accusative | einen | den | Siebenschläfer | die | Siebenschläfer |
Further reading
- “Siebenschläfer” in Duden online
- “Siebenschläfer” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
Siebenschläfer on the German Wikipedia.Wikipedia de