Wechselbalg

German

Etymology

wechseln (to exchange) + Balg (baby, brat). Cognate to Dutch wisselbalg.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈvɛksəlˌbalk/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -alk
  • Hyphenation: We‧chsel‧balg

Noun

Wechselbalg m (strong, genitive Wechselbalgs or Wechselbalges, plural (northern Germany) Wechselbälger or (southern Germany) Wechselbälge)

  1. (mythology) changeling (an infant that was secretly exchanged for a mother's own baby by an evil creature)
  2. (dated) child born out of wedlock

Declension

Further reading

  • Wechselbalg” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • Wechselbalg” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
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