Kanaille

German

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from French canaille.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /kaˈnaljə/
    • (file)
  • IPA(key): /kaˈnaɪ̯ə/ (Austria)

Noun

Kanaille f (genitive Kanaille, plural Kanaillen)

  1. (formerly derogatory, now dated and usually humorous) scoundrel, rascal, (also) someone extravagant, eccentric
    Na, du alte Kanaille! ― Well, well, you rascal
    Der Typ ist echt so’ne Kanaille... ― That guy is positively eccentric...
  2. (archaic, collective) mob, vermin, canaille
    • 1909 [1901], Thomas Mann, Buddenbrooks […] ‎, Berlin: Deutsche Buch-Gemeinschaft, →OCLC, page 182:
      Aber er strafte sich selber Lügen, indem er plötzlich hervorzischte: »Parbleu, Jean! man müßte diesen infamen Schmierfinken den Respekt mit Pulver und Blei in den Leib knallen … Das Pack …! Die Canaille …!«
      But he gave the lie to himself by suddenly hissing out: "Parbleu, Jean! one would have to pound respect with powder and lead in these infamous greases ... The pack ...! The canaille ...!"

Declension
Declension of Kanaille [feminine]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative eine die Kanaille die Kanaillen
genitive einer der Kanaille der Kanaillen
dative einer der Kanaille den Kanaillen
accusative eine die Kanaille die Kanaillen

Derived terms

Further reading
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