Jungfer

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German

Etymology

Weakened form of Jungfrau (cf. Dutch juffer). Both words originally meant “unmarried (noble) woman” but have become semantically distinct.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈjʊŋ.fɐ/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

Jungfer f (genitive Jungfer, plural Jungfern, diminutive Jungferchen n)

  1. (archaic) maid, maiden; virgin
  2. unmarried woman; (old) maid, spinster
    Nach dem Krieg herrschte Männermangel und viele Frauen sind Jungfer geblieben.
    After the war, there was a deficit of men and many women stayed unmarried.
  3. (printing, archaic) petit, a size of type between Kolonel and Bourgeois, standardized as 8 point

Usage notes

As with the English old maid, Jungfer is most often used in combination with the adjective alt (“old”): eine alte Jungfer. The term is used as an intensifier and does not necessarily denote the woman is actually elderly.

The word has decreased in usage with changing mores but is not yet dated. While not per se pejorative, it can connote a lack of social success and may be considered offensive.

Declension

Declension of Jungfer
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative eine die Jungfer die Jungfern
genitive einer der Jungfer der Jungfern
dative einer der Jungfer den Jungfern
accusative eine die Jungfer die Jungfern

Synonyms

Derived terms

See also

Further reading

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia