Wetterfrosch
German
Etymology
From Wetter (“weather”) + Frosch (“frog”). Some frogs climb up vegetation in warm weather, so it was erroneously believed that the same behaviour could also predict warmth.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈvɛtərˌfrɔʃ/, [ˈvɛ.tɐˌfʁɔʃ], [ˈʋ-]
Noun
Wetterfrosch m (genitive Wetterfroschs or Wetterfrosches, plural Wetterfrösche)
- A frog kept in a jar with a small ladder; when the frog climbed up the ladder, this was seen as an indication of warmer weather in the following days.
- (figuratively, humorous) A meterologist, weatherman.
Usage notes
- The custom was common until the first half of the 20th century and, though no longer practiced, is still generally known in the German-speaking world.
Declension
Declension of Wetterfrosch
| singular | plural | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| indef. | def. | noun | def. | noun | |
| nominative | ein | der | Wetterfrosch | die | Wetterfrösche |
| genitive | eines | des | Wetterfrosches, Wetterfroschs | der | Wetterfrösche |
| dative | einem | dem | Wetterfrosch, Wetterfrosche1 | den | Wetterfröschen |
| accusative | einen | den | Wetterfrosch | die | Wetterfrösche |
1Now uncommon, see notes