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Krümel. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
Krümel, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
Krümel in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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German
Etymology
Old diminutive of Krume, which is now less common in the simplex form. An originally Central and Low German word that has widely replaced the Upper German Brosame in standard usage. From Middle High German (Central German) krume, reinforced by cognate Middle Low German krume, krōme. From Proto-Germanic *krumô, *krūmô (“fragment, crumb”). Cognate with English crumb. Also related to Dutch kruim, which goes back to a variant with an original long vowel, however.
The modern long vowel in Krümel is due to the levelling effect of Krume. The expected form would be *Krümmel since following -mel, -mer regularly blocked vowel lengthening in open syllables (compare Himmel, Hammer). Pronunciations with a short vowel remain current in regional speech.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈkʁyːməl/ (standard)
- IPA(key): /ˈkʁʏməl/ (regional, including western Germany)
Noun
Krümel m (strong, genitive Krümels, plural Krümel, diminutive Krümelchen n)
- crumb (small broken-off piece, particularly of bread)
- Synonyms: (dated; still regional) Brosame; (regional) Brösel
Declension
Derived terms
Further reading
- “Krümel” in Duden online
- “Krümel” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache