See also: Nolen

German edit

Etymology edit

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 edit

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

Verb edit

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 edit

Derived terms edit

Further reading edit

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