Albtraum

German

Alternative forms
  • Alptraum (sole standard spelling until 1996; now less common)

Etymology

Alb +‎ Traum, because nightmares in some forms of German folklore are thought to be caused by an elf sitting on one's chest while one slept.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈalptʁaʊ̯m/
  • Audio(file)

Noun

Albtraum m (strong, genitive Albtraumes or Albtraums, plural Albträume)

  1. nightmare
    Synonyms: Alpdruck, Alpdrücken
    Er leidet an schweren Albträumen.
    He suffers from severe nightmares.

Usage notes

Declension
Declension of Albtraum [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Albtraum die Albträume
genitive eines des Albtraumes, Albtraums der Albträume
dative einem dem Albtraum, Albtraume1 den Albträumen
accusative einen den Albtraum die Albträume

1Now rare, see notes.

Further reading
  • “Albtraum” in Duden online
  • “Albtraum” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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