Backfisch

See also: backfisch

German

Etymology

From backen (“to bake”) +‎ Fisch (“fish”). Figurative sense probably from the use of younger, smaller fish for baking, although many different theories exist.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): [ˈbakˌfɪʃ]
  • Backfisch(file)
  • Audio(file)

Noun

Backfisch m (strong, genitive Backfisches or Backfischs, plural Backfische)

  1. baked or fried fish, or a fish intended for baking or frying
  2. (humorous, dated) backfisch, teenage or late-adolescent girl
    • 1924, Thomas Mann, Der Zauberberg [The Magic Mountain], volume 1, Berlin: S. Fischer, page 91:
      Sie war noch auf, als ich hier ankam, und ausgelassen lustig konnte sie sein, so dalberig, recht wie ein Backfisch.
      She was still awake when I got here, and she could be wildly funny, so silly, right as a teenage girl.

Declension
Declension of Backfisch [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Backfisch die Backfische
genitive eines des Backfisches, Backfischs der Backfische
dative einem dem Backfisch, Backfische1 den Backfischen
accusative einen den Backfisch die Backfische

1Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms

Descendants
  • → Dutch: bakvis (calque)
  • → English: backfisch
  • → Hungarian: bakfis
  • → Swedish: backfisch

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