nölen

See also: Nolen

German

Etymology

From Low German nölen, whence also Dutch neulen, Danish nøle. The sense "gripe" is derived from "speak slowly or lengthily", itself perhaps from "dawdle" (though it might be the other way round). Further origin uncertain, but usually considered onomatopoeic.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈnøːlən/, [ˈnøː.l̩n], [-lən]
  • (file)

Verb

nölen (weak, third-person singular present nölt, past tense nölte, past participle genölt, auxiliary haben)

  1. to gripe, whinge (complain in a whining tone)
  2. (Northern Germany, perhaps dated) to dawdle (be slow, waste time)
    Synonyms: trödeln, (regional) klüngeln

Conjugation

Derived terms

  • Genöle, Nölerei
  • Nöler
  • nölig

Further reading

  • nölen” in Duden online
  • nölen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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