German edit

Etymology edit

From Middle High German nahtegal(e), from Old High German nahtagala, from Proto-West Germanic *nahtigalā (literally she who sings during the night). Related with Nacht and gellen. Middle High German unstressed -eg- regularly yields modern -ig- (compare the suffix -ig and words like Bräutigam). Cognate with Dutch nachtegaal, English nightingale (which see for more).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈnaxtiɡal/, [ˈnaχ.ti.ɡal], [ˈnax-], [-tɪ-]
  • (file)

Noun edit

Nachtigall f (genitive Nachtigall, plural Nachtigallen)

  1. nightingale (bird)

Declension edit

Derived terms edit

Descendants edit

  • Saterland Frisian: Nachtigal

Further reading edit