German edit

Alternative forms edit

  • fuddeln (rarer spelling, but common pronunciation; see below)

Etymology edit

From Low German fuddeln (to work negligently) and Central Franconian fuddele (to work negligently; to cheat; to use contraception). The verb may be derived from Low German Fudde, Central Franconian Fudd, Fuddel, all “rag, old cloth” (compare Dutch vod); plausibly through a sense “to brush superficially with a rag”, as there existed a particular association with houseworkers. However, the verb reaches much further south along the Rhine than does the noun and many forms require an underlying long vowel. Many dialects also have several forms alongside. Therefore the above seems to have been influenced by or merged with one or more other verbs, including perhaps one from Old French faute (fault, misbehaviour). Compare Luxembourgish fuddelen, fautelen, pautelen, all “to cheat”.

Pronunciation edit

Verb edit

fudeln (weak, third-person singular present fudelt, past tense fudelte, past participle gefudelt, auxiliary haben)

  1. to cheat, usually at a game
    Synonyms: mogeln, betrügen
  2. (possibly dated) to work negligently

Conjugation edit

Derived terms edit

Further reading edit

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