Wetterfrosch

German

Etymology

From Wetter (“weather”) +‎ Frosch (“frog”). Some frogs climb up vegetation in warm weather, so it was erroneously believed that the same behaviour could also predict warmth.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈvɛtərˌfrɔʃ/, [ˈvɛ.tɐˌfʁɔʃ], [ˈʋ-]
  • Audio(file)

Noun

Wetterfrosch m (strong, genitive Wetterfrosches or Wetterfroschs, plural Wetterfrösche)

  1. A frog kept in a jar with a small ladder; when the frog climbed up the ladder, this was seen as an indication of warmer weather in the following days.
  2. (figurative, humorous) A meterologist, weatherman.

Usage notes
  • The custom was common until the first half of the 20th century and, though no longer practiced, is still generally known in the German-speaking world.

Declension
Declension of Wetterfrosch [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Wetterfrosch die Wetterfrösche
genitive eines des Wetterfrosches, Wetterfroschs der Wetterfrösche
dative einem dem Wetterfrosch, Wetterfrosche1 den Wetterfröschen
accusative einen den Wetterfrosch die Wetterfrösche

1Now rare, see notes.

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