Since the late 17th century, probably from Central German dialects. Ultimately of imitative origin. Perhaps comparable to knittern (“to crease, crumple”), with which it shares an ablaut relationship.
knattern (weak, third-person singular present knattert, past tense knatterte, past participle geknattert, auxiliary haben) (intransitive)
infinitive | knattern | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
present participle | knatternd | ||||
past participle | geknattert | ||||
auxiliary | haben | ||||
indicative | subjunctive | ||||
singular | plural | singular | plural | ||
present | ich knattre ich knattere ich knatter |
wir knattern | i | ich knattere ich knattre |
wir knattern |
du knatterst | ihr knattert | du knatterest du knattrest |
ihr knatteret ihr knattret | ||
er knattert | sie knattern | er knattere er knattre |
sie knattern | ||
preterite | ich knatterte | wir knatterten | ii | ich knatterte1 | wir knatterten1 |
du knattertest | ihr knattertet | du knattertest1 | ihr knattertet1 | ||
er knatterte | sie knatterten | er knatterte1 | sie knatterten1 | ||
imperative | knattre (du) knatter (du) knattere (du) |
knattert (ihr) |
1Rare except in very formal contexts; alternative in würde normally preferred.