keifen

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German

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Etymology

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From Middle High German kīben, from Old High German *kīban, from Proto-West Germanic *kīban (to quarrel).

The modern form with a fricative is of Low and West Central German origin; compare Middle Low German kīven. The original plosive is preserved in the Upper German iterative form kibbeln and keppeln, in Bavarian keppln, and in Alemannic German kebbeln. Cognate with Dutch kijven.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈkaɪ̯fən/
  • Audio:(file)

Verb

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keifen (weak, third-person singular present keift, past tense keifte, past participle gekeift, auxiliary haben)

  1. to rail or nag in a sharp voice (in such a way as, according to the stereotype, is typical of an enraged older woman)

Conjugation

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Derived terms

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