fummeln

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word fummeln. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word fummeln, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say fummeln in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word fummeln you have here. The definition of the word fummeln will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition offummeln, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

German

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle Low German fummelen, fimmelen, perhaps ultimately imitative of fumbling.[1] Or, from Proto-Indo-European *pal- (to shake, swing), see also Latin palpo (I pat, touch softly), and possibly Proto-Germanic *fōlijaną (to feel).[2]

Cognate with English fumble.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈfʊməln/, ,
  • Audio:(file)

Verb

fummeln (weak, third-person singular present fummelt, past tense fummelte, past participle gefummelt, auxiliary haben)

  1. to fumble (idly touch or nervously handle)
    Synonym: nesteln
  2. to fiddle (adjust in order to cover a basic flaw)
    Synonym: frickeln
  3. (colloquial, somewhat dated) to make out (engage in sexual activities)
    Synonym: rummachen
    • 2024 May 16, Silvia Süess, “Beim Einparkieren den Ausweg finden”, in WOZ:
      Und auch in «Auf allen vieren» wird weiter unverblümt gefummelt, geleckt, gefingert, gerieben, geflüstert und fantasiert. Das liest sich manchmal verstörend und mit Fremdscham, meist aber vergnüglich und sehr lustvoll.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Conjugation

Derived terms

References

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “fumble”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
  2. ^ Pokorny, Julius (1959) “2313”, in Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch [Indo-European Etymological Dictionary] (in German), volume 3, Bern, München: Francke Verlag, page 2313

Further reading

  • fummeln” in Duden online
  • fummeln” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache