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Dutch
Etymology
From Middle Dutch beide, from Old Dutch beithe.
Pronunciation
Determiner
beide
- both
Usage notes
This term is used both with a noun, and on its own as a pronoun. However, when used as a pronoun to refer to two persons rather than objects or animals, beiden is often used instead.
Anagrams
German
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Middle High German beide, bēde, from Old High German beide, bēde, from Proto-Germanic *bai.
Pronunciation
Determiner
beide
- both
1528, Martin Luther, Eine bericht an einen guten freund von Beider gestalt des Sacraments auffs Bischoffs zu Meissen mandat:Wir haben bis her die schrifft aus den Euangelien von beider gestalt angezeigt und fürgelegt.- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
1661, Daniel Casper von Lohenstein, Cleopatra, Trauer-Spiel, Breßlau:
1689, Daniel Casper von Lohenstein, Ibrahim Bassa, Trauer-Spiel, Breßlau, page 21:Sie fiehl ihm umb den Hals mit beydem Arm und küßte
Mit Thränen sein Gesicht, und hielt sich fest an ihn[.]- She wrapped both arms around his neck, kissed his face in tears, and held him tight.
1731, Nicolai Staphorst, Hamburgische Kirchen-Geschichte. Des Ersten Theils Vierter Band, Hamburg, page 545:
- (the) two
Usage notes
- The determiner has only plural forms in contemporary German (see declension below).
- Beide is much more frequent than English “both”. Although the numeral zwei can be used after articles and determiners, German prefers to use beide in this function. Thus: “my two best friends” → meine beiden besten Freunde; “the two most famous actors” → die beiden berühmtesten Schauspieler, etc.
Pronoun
beide
- both
- 1754, edited by D. Siegmund Jacob Baumgarten, Samlung von merkwürdigen Lebensbeschreibungen grösten Theils aus der britannischen Biographie übersetzt. Erster Theil, Halle, page 496 (inside a quote):
Der dritte ist ein Prediger, welcher jetzt der Entdeckung und Widerlegung der Widertäufer und Papisten in Essex wegen beides in seinem Predigen und Schreiben, das Kreutz Christi zu tragen genötiget ist u. s. w.- The third is a preacher who is now compelled to wear the crucifix while both preaching and writing because of the discovery and refutation of the Anabaptists and Papists in Essex, etc.
1764, D. Johan Jacob Reiske, Demosthenis und Aeschinis Reden. Erster Band, page 194:
1843, Justus Möser, B. R. Abeken, editors, Osnabrückische Geschichte. Zweiter Theil, Berlin, page 124:Der freie Lehnmann erkennt den Bischof für seinen Richter wegen seines Lehns und der Lehnspflicht, aber nicht wegen seiner Person und übrigen Güter; der Dienstmann verehrt ihn wegen beides; und was von geringern Leuten in seinem oder der Seinigen Schutz und Eigenthum steht, ist mit ihm durch den Faden der besondern Schutzgerechtigkeit und der Hörigkeit verknüpft.- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- (the) two
Usage notes
The pronoun exists in the plural (beide) and the neuter singular (beides). Although the senses of the two constructions are roughly the same, they are not freely interchangeable.
- Only the plural construction is possible for referring to people, and generally after an article or determiner:
Anne und Tanja kommen beide aus Stuttgart.- Anne and Tanja are both from Stuttgart.
Diese beiden sind meine Lieblingsjacken.- These two are my favourite jackets.
- The singular construction is used to refer to two situations or two choices:
«Willst du eine Wohnung mieten oder kaufen?» – «Beides ist mir recht.»- "Do you want to buy or rent an apartment?" – "Either way is fine with me."
- (literally, “"Both are fine with me."”)
Hier sitzen und nichts tun oder auf die Kirmes gehen – beides ist schrecklich.- Sit here and do nothing, or go to that fun fair – both are horrible.
- Both constructions are possible for referring to things. The plural treats them as individual items, the singular as a collective whole. The latter is used chiefly with mass nouns.
«Gefällt dir das rote oder das blaue Hemd besser?» – «Beide sind gut.»- "Do you like the red or the blue shirt better?" – "Both are fine."
Du kannst Suppe oder Kartoffelsalat essen – beides ist im Kühlschrank.- You can have soup or potato salad – they’re both in the fridge.
Declension
Declension of beide
* The genitive singular beides is obsolete. As in all such cases, it must be paraphrased with von or (after certain prepositions like wegen) replaced with the dative.
Derived terms
Further reading
- “beide” in Duden online
- “beide” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
Middle Dutch
Etymology 1
From Old Dutch beithe, from Proto-Germanic *bai.
Determiner
beide
- both
- (beide ... ende) both ... and
Inflection
This determiner needs an inflection-table template.
Alternative forms
Descendants
Etymology 2
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Noun
beide f
- waiting time, delay
- abode
Inflection
This noun needs an inflection-table template.
Further reading
- “beide (I)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
- “beide (II)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
- Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “beide (I)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN, page I
- Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “beide (II)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN, page II
Middle High German
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Old High German beide.
Pronoun
beide
- both
Declension
See also
Old High German
Pronunciation
Adjective
beide
- Alternative form of bēde
References
- Joseph Wright, An Old High-German Primer with Grammar, Notes and Glossary, Oxford, 1888, p. 143.