Backfisch
See also: backfisch
German
Etymology
From backen (“to bake”) + Fisch (“fish”). Figurative sense probably from the use of younger, smaller fish for baking, although many different theories exist.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ˈbakˌfɪʃ]
Backfisch (file) Audio (file)
Noun
Backfisch m (strong, genitive Backfisches or Backfischs, plural Backfische)
- baked or fried fish, or a fish intended for baking or frying
- (humorous, dated) backfisch, teenage or late-adolescent girl
- 1924, Thomas Mann, Der Zauberberg [The Magic Mountain], volume 1, Berlin: S. Fischer, page 91:
- Sie war noch auf, als ich hier ankam, und ausgelassen lustig konnte sie sein, so dalberig, recht wie ein Backfisch.
- She was still awake when I got here, and she could be wildly funny, so silly, right as a teenage girl.
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Declension
Declension of Backfisch [masculine, strong]
| singular | plural | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| indef. | def. | noun | def. | noun | |
| nominative | ein | der | Backfisch | die | Backfische |
| genitive | eines | des | Backfisches, Backfischs | der | Backfische |
| dative | einem | dem | Backfisch, Backfische1 | den | Backfischen |
| accusative | einen | den | Backfisch | die | Backfische |
1Now uncommon, see notes.
Derived terms
- Backfischaquarium
- Backfischroman
Descendants
- → Dutch: bakvis (calque)
- → English: backfisch
- → Hungarian: bakfis
- → Swedish: backfisch
Further reading
- “Backfisch” in Duden online
- “Backfisch” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache