Geißbock

German

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Geiß +‎ Bock.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈɡaɪsˌbɔk/
  • Audio(file)
  • Hyphenation: Geiß‧bock

Noun

Geißbock m (strong, genitive Geißbockes or Geißbocks, plural Geißböcke)

  1. billy goat, he-goat
    Synonym: Ziegenbock

Usage notes

The word is most common in southern Germany and Austria. Moreover, it is also used – alongside Ziegenbock – in some more northern regions where Geiß itself has become rare (probably because the compound with Bock is more transparent and generally intelligible than the bare word).

Declension
Declension of Geißbock [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Geißbock die Geißböcke
genitive eines des Geißbockes, Geißbocks der Geißböcke
dative einem dem Geißbock, Geißbocke1 den Geißböcken
accusative einen den Geißbock die Geißböcke

1Now rare, see notes.

Synonyms
  • Bock (includes other species such as sheep)

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