Pfaffe

German

Etymology

From Middle High German pfaffe, from Old High German pfaffo, phaffo, an early borrowing from Gothic 𐍀𐌰𐍀𐌰 (papa) demonstrating the effects of the High German consonant shift, from Ancient Greek πάπας (pápas).[1] Cognate to Dutch paap. Doublet of Papst.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈp͡fafə/
  • Audio(file)

Noun

Pfaffe m (weak, genitive Pfaffen, plural Pfaffen)

  1. (now derogatory) cleric, clergyman
    Synonyms: Geistlicher, Kleriker
    • 1808, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust: Der Tragödie erster Teil [Faust, Part One]‎:
      Da die? Sie kam von ihrem Pfaffen, / Der sprach sie aller Sünden frey;
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Usage notes

The term was originally neutral, but since about the time of the Reformation it ceased to be used with any positive tone; usage today is derogatory.

Declension
Declension of Pfaffe [masculine, weak]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Pfaffe die Pfaffen
genitive eines des Pfaffen der Pfaffen
dative einem dem Pfaffen den Pfaffen
accusative einen den Pfaffen die Pfaffen

Derived terms

References
  1. Dennis Green, Language and History in the Early Germanic World (Cambridge 1998) p. 309

Further reading
  • “Pfaffe” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • “Pfaffe” in Duden online
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