Appendix:German cognates with English/Special cases

Irregular and Singleton Cognates

Standard German cognate	Modern English cognate	Meaning of German cognate	Old English cognate	Old Norse cognate	Proto-Germanic root
Abend [m]	eve; even	evening	ǣfen, ēfen		*ēbanþs
achtzig	eighty	eighty			*ahtōutēhundą
Alp [m]	elf	nightmare	ælf	alfr	*albiz
Alp(traum) [m]	elf	nightmare	ælf	alfr	*albiz
Ameise [f]	ant	ant	ǣmette		*ēmaitijǭ
Amsel [f]	ouzel	blackbird	ōsle		*amslǭ
Arsch [m]	arse	arse	ears, ærs	ars	*arsaz
baden; badete; (ge)badet	bask; basked; basked	to bathe		baðask	*baþōną
beid- (det.)	both	both	bā þā	báðir
Blut [n]	blood	blood	blōd		*blōþą
bluten; blutete; (ge)blutet	bleed; bled; bled	to bleed	blēdan		*blōþijaną
blutig	bloody	bloody	blōdiġ
Bräutigam [m]	brideg(r)oom	bridegroom	brȳdguma		*brūdigumô
Brodem [m] (chiefly)	breath	vapor, strong smell	brǣþ		*brēþiz
Bube	boy	boy, knave, jack
Donner [m]	thunder	thunder	þunor		*þunraz
Donnerstag [m]	Thursday	Thursday	þursdæġ		*Þunras dagaz
dreißig	thirty	thirty	þrītiġ		*þrīz tigiwiz
dreizehn	thirteen	thirteen	þreotīene	þrettán	*þritehun
Eibe [f]	yew	yew	īw, ēow		*īhwaz
Eiland [n]	i(s)land	island	īeġland, īġland	eyland	*awjōlandą
Elch [m]	elk	elk	elh, eolh, elch		*elhaz
euch	you	you	ēow		*izwiz
fassen; fasste; (ge)fasst	fetch; fetched; fetched	to grab, to grasp	feċċan		*fatōną
Freitag [m]	Friday	Friday	frīġedæġ		*Frijjōz dagaz
Füchsin	vixen	vixen	fixen		Proto-West Germanic *fuhsini
fünfzehn	fifteen	fifteen	fīftīene		*fimftehun
fünfzig	fifty	fifty	fīftiġ		*fimf tigiwiz
Furche [f]	furrow	furrow	furh		*furhs
gehen; ging; (ge)gangen	go; (went); gone	to go	gān	gá	*gāną
genug	enough	enough	ġenōg		*ganōgaz
Gerste	gorse	barley	gors
Graf [m]	(she)riff	count (nobility)	ġerēfa	greifi	*grēfijô
Hanf [m]	hemp	hemp			*hanapiz
Haupt- (prefix); Haupt [n] (chiefly)	head	main, major, chief; head	hēafod		*haubudą
(ver)heeren; (ver)heerte; (ver)heert	harry; harried; harried	to devastate	herian	herja	*harjōną
Hengst [m]	hench(man)	stallion	hengest		*hangistaz
Hexe	hag	witch	hægtesse		*hagatussjā
Hirsch [m]	hart	deer	heorot, heort	hjǫrtr	*herutaz
ich	I	I			*ek
jetzt	yet	currently, now
keck	quick	bold, perky	cwic		*kwikwaz
Kloß [m]	clod; cloud	lump, dumpling	clūd; clod		*klūtaz
können; konnte; (ge)konnt	- (can); could; couth/could	to be able to	cunnan	kunna	*kunnaną
könnend	cunning (adj.)	able to do
Krippe [f]	crib	crib	cribb, crib	krubba	*kribjǭ
Landschaft [f]	landscape	landscape, countryside, scenery
lauwarm	lukewarm	lukewarm
Lenz [m]	Lent	spring	lencten		*langatīnaz
machen; machte; (ge)macht	make; made; made	to do, to make	macian		Proto-West Germanic *makōn
manch- (det.)	many	some	maniġ		*managaz
manigfaltig	manifold	various	maniġfeald		*managafalþaz
mischen; mischte; (ge)mischt	mix; mixed; mixed	to mix	*mixian		*miskijaną
Molch [m]	mole	salamander, newt
Montag [m]	Monday	Monday	mōnandæġ		*mēniniz dagaz
mürbe	mellow	tender, soft	meru		*marwaz
nagen; nagte; (ge)nagt	gnaw; gnawed; gnawed	to gnaw	gnagan	gnaga	*gnaganą
Natter [f]	adder	grass-snake	nǣdre		*nadrǭ
neunzig	ninety	ninety			*newuntēhundą
nicht	not	not	nāht
quer	thwart	diagonal		þverr	*þwerhaz
rau; rauh	rough	rough	rūh		*rūhwaz
Reich [n]	(bishop)ric	empire, realm	rīce	ríki	*rīkiją
Rogen [m]	roe (fish eggs)	roe (fish eggs)			*hrugnaz
Ross [n] (often chiefly)	horse	horse	hors	hross	*hrussą
saugen; saugte; (ge)saugt	suck; sucked; sucked	to suck	sūcan		*sūkaną, *sūganą
schichten; schichtete; (ge)schichtet	shift; shifted; shifted	to stack, to layer			*skiftijaną
schlagen; schlug; (ge)schlagen	slay; slew; slain	to hit, to slay	slēan	slá	*slahaną
Schläge(l)	sledge	mallet, maul; drumstick	sleċġ		*slagjǭ
schlittern; schlitterte; (ge)schlittert	slither; slithered; slithered	to slither; to skid			*slidrōną
schmoren; schmorte; (ge)schmort	smother; smothered; smothered	to braise
Schwester [f]	sister	sister		systir	*swestēr
sechzig	sixty	sixty	sixtiġ		*sehs tigiwiz
selten	seldom	rare, seldom	seldan	sjaldan	*seldanē
siebzig	seventy	seventy			*sebuntēhundą
sollen; sollte; (ge)sollt	- (shall); should; should	to be supposed to	sċulan		*skulaną
Sonntag [m]	Sunday	Sunday	sunnandæġ		*sunnōniz dagaz
Spinne [f]	spider	spider
Steige [f]	sty	hen-coop	stī, stiġ	stía, stí
Stiel	stalk	stalk, a long, fairly thin, protrusion	stalu
Sünde [f]	sin	sin	synn		*sundī
süß	sweet	sweet	swōt; swēte		*swōtuz
Tracht [f]	draught/draft	garb			*drahtuz
treffen; traf; (ge)troffen	drub; drubbed; drubbed	to hit so./sth., to strike sth., to meet so.	drepan	drepa	*drepaną
uns	us	us	ūs	oss	*uns
vierzehn	fourteen	fourteen	fēowertīene	fjórtán	*fedurtehun
vierzig	forty	forty			*fedwōr tigiwiz
Wicht [m]	whit	gnome	wiht		*wihtiz
wins(el)n, wins(el)te, (ge)wins(el)t	whinge, whinged, whinged	to whine; to whimper	hwinsian		Proto-West Germanic *hwinisōn
zäh	tough	chewy, tough	tōh		*tanhuz
Zahn [m]; Zähne [pl.]	tooth; teeth	tooth	tōþ		*tanþs
zeigen; zeigte; (ge)zeigt	teach; taught; taught	to show	tǣċan		*taikijaną
zittern; zitterte; (ge)zittert	dither; dithered; dithered	to shiver, to tremble, to vibrate
Zwang	thong	compulsion; obligation	þwang		*þwangiz
zwanzig	twenty	twenty	twēntiġ		*twai tigiwiz
Zwerg [m]	dwarf	dwarf	dweorg		*dwergaz
Zwinge	thong	vice, clamp	þwang		*þwangiz, *þwanguz

Archaic, Dialectal, Obsolete, Poetic, Rare, or Regional Cognates

Cases where either the German or the English or both members of the cognate pair are considered archaic, obsolete, rare, regional, or dialectal in that language. Cases where the word is not in everyday use in the contemporary, dominant form of the language are marked with an asterisk (*).

Standard German cognate	Modern English Cognate	Meaning of German cognate	Meaning of English cognate	Old English cognate	Old Norse cognate	Proto-Germanic root
Aar* [m]	er(ne)	eagle	erne	earn	ǫrn	*arô
after-* (prefix)	after	after- (prefix)	after	æfter	eptir	*after
Alb* [m]; Alben*	elf; elves	elf (often malignant)	elf	ælf	alfr	*albiz
Ameise [f]	emmet*	ant	ant	ǣmette		Proto-West Germanic *āmaitijā
auch	eke	also	also	ēac		*auk
Bär*	boar	boar	boar	bār		*bairaz
baußen*	but	outside	but	būtan
Behuf*	behoof*	purpose, aim	behalf; interest, advantage, profit, benefit	behōf		*bihōfą
behufen*; behufte*; behuft*	behove/behoove; behoved/behooved; behoved/behooved	to behove	to behove	behōfian
Bille*	bill*	axe	any of various bladed or pointed hand weapons	bill, bil		*bilją
bleiben; blieb; (ge)blieben	beleave*; beleft*; beleft*	to remain	to leave behind, to abandon; to be left, to remain	belīfan		*bilībaną
blid*, blied*	blithe	glad, happy; cheerful	happy, cheerful; indifferent, careless	blīþe		*blīþiz
Bolle*	bowl	bulb	bowl	bolla, bolle	bolli	*bullô, *bullǭ
Bube	bub*	boy, knave, jack
Buchstabe	bookstaff*	letter (of the alphabet)	letter (of the alphabet)	bōcstæf		*bōkstabaz
Degen [m]	thane*	epee, rapier, hero (arch.), warrior (arch.)	a rank of nobility	þegn, þegen	þegn	*þegnaz
dein	thine*	your	your	þīn	þínn	*þīnaz
dir	thee*	you	you	þē		*þiz
Dorf [n]	thorp*	hamlet, village, town	hamlet, village	þrop, þorp	þorp	*þurpą
Driss*	dirt	shit	dirt	drit	drit	*dritą
drucken; druckte; (ge)druckt	thrutch*; thrutched*; thrutched*	to print	to crowd, to trouble, to thrust	þryċċan		*þrukkijaną
drücken; drückte; (ge)drückt	thrutch*; thrutched*; thrutched*	to press, to push	to crowd, to trouble, to thrust	þryċċan		*þrukkijaną
du	thou*	you	you			*þū
edel	athel*	noble, elegant	noble, illustrious	æþele	aðall	*aþalaz
Erend*	errand	order, task, contract, errand	errand	ǣrende		Proto-West Germanic *ārundī
Fachs*	fax*	hair (head)	hair (head)	feax	fax	*fahsą
fegen; fegte; (ge)fegt	fay*; fayed*; fayed*	to sweep; to polish	to cleanse; to clean out
Feim*	foam	a heap of layered grain	foam	fām		*faimaz
feren*/fähren*; ferte*/fährte*; (ge)fert*/(ge)fährt*	ferry; ferried; ferried	to row, to sail	to ferry	ferian		*farjaną
Fleiß	flite*	zeal; diligence	quarrel, dispute; scolding	flīt
Föhre* [f]	fir	pine	fir	furh	fura, fýri	*furhō
Friede(n) [m], Friede [m]	frith*	peace, tranquility	peace, sanctuary	friþ	friðr	*friþuz
Frosch [m]	frosh*	frog	frog	frosċ		*fruskaz
fürder(hin)* (chiefly)	further	henceforth	further
gar	yar*	cooked, done (food), even	quick and agile (naut); easy to hand, reef and steer (naut)	ġearu		*garwaz
Geiß* [f]	goat	goat	goat	gāt	geit	*gaits
gießen; goss; (ge)gossen	yote*; yoted*; yoted*	to pour	to pour; to steep	ġēotan		*geutaną
Graf [m]	reeve*	count (nobility)	any of several local officials, with varying responsibilities	ġerēfa	greifi	*grēfijô
grimm*	grim		grim	grim		*grimmaz
gürten*; gürtete*; (ge)gürtet*	gird*; girt*/girded*; girt*/girded*	to bind with a cord, to encircle with a belt	to bind with a cord, to encircle with a belt	gyrdan		*gurdijaną
Hamme*	ham	hind part of the knee, ham	ham	hamm
heichen; heichte; (ge)heicht	hie*; hied; hied*	to choke, to gasp for breath	to hasten, to hurry	hīgian		*hīgōną
Heilige [m/f/n]	hallow*	saint	saint
Helm [m]	helm*	helmet	helmet	helm	hjalmr	*helmaz
Holz [n]	holt*	wood	a woody hill, copse	holt	holt	*hultą
ihr	ye*	you [plural]	you [plural]	ġē		*jūz
jen- (det.)	yon*	that	that	ġeon	enn, inn	*jainaz
Käu/Keu*	jaw	jaw, donkey jowl	jaw
kennen; kannte; (ge)kannt	ken*; kent*/kenned*; kent*/kenned*	to know	to know	cennan	kenna	*kannijaną
Kiesel [m]	chisel	gravel	gravel	ċisel		Proto-West Germanic *kisil
kiesen*; kor*; (ge)koren*	choose; chose; chosen	to choose	to choose			*keusaną
kipfen*; kipfte*; (ge)kipft*	chip; chipped; chipped	to snip sth.	to chip
Knabe [m]	knave*	boy	knave	cnafa		*knabô
Kneipsche* [n]	knife	knife	knife
Kobe(n)*	cove	stable, shed, nook, pigsty	cove	cofa	kofi	*kubô
kund	couth*	known	familiar, agreeable	cūþ		*kunþaz
Lachs [m]	lax*	salmon	salmon	leax	lax	*lahsaz
Last [f]	last*	load	load, cargo, a measure of weight	hlæst		*hlastuz
Laube*	leave	permission	permission; farewell, departure	lēaf	lauf	*laubą
Leiche [f]	lich*	corpse	corpse	līċ		*līką
leid	loath*/loth*	sorry (anguish)	averse, disinclined	lāþ	leiðr	*laiþaz
leiden; litt; (ge)litten	lithe*; lode*/lithed*; lidden*/lithed*	to suffer, to brook; to permit	to go	līþan	líða	*līþaną
lesen; las; (ge)lesen	lease*; leased*; leased*	to read (e.g. a book), to gather (e.g. berries)	to gather	lesan	lesa	*lesaną
Leute [pl.]	lede*	people	person, people, nation, holdings	leode; leod		*liudiz
lind*	lithe	mild, gentle	mild, slim, adaptable	līþan	líða	*līþaną
linden	linden*	linden (adj)	made of lime-wood	linden		*lindīnaz
lindern; linderte; (ge)lindert	lithe*; lithed*; lithed*	to alleviate, to ease, to relieve	to become calm, to make soft, to make mild
List	list*	cunning, trick	cunning; art, skill	list	list	*listiz
lüsten*; lüstete*; gelüstet*	list*; listed*; listed*	to desire	to be pleasing to; to desire
(ge)lüsten; (ge)lüstete; gelüstet	list*; listed*; listed*	to desire	to be pleasing to; to desire
Meil	mole	spot, stain, blemish	mole	māl, mǣl		*mailą
melk* (adj.)	milch*	milk-giving, milch	milk-giving, tender
Miete	meed*	rent	payment, reward, gift, bribe; merit, worth	mēd		*mizdō
missen*; misste*; (ge)misst*	miss; missed; missed	to lack; to miss; to lose	to miss	missan	missa	*missijaną
Morgen [m] ; morgen	morn*; morrow*	morning, tomorrow	morning			*murginaz
müssen; musste; (ge)musst	mote*; must*; must*	to have to	to have to	mōtan		*mōtaną
Neid [m]	nithe*	envy	envy, hatred	nīþ	níð	*nīþą
Obst [n]	ovest*	fruit	mast and acorns of the oak	ofett, ofet		*ubatją
oft	oft*	often	often	oft	oft, opt	*ufta, *uftō
Oheim* [m]	eam*	maternal uncle	uncle	ēam		*awahaimaz
Pfühl*	pillow	pillow	pillow	pylwe, pylu, pyle
Rahm [m]	ream*	cream	cream	rēam		*raumaz
rahmen; rahmte; (ge)rahmt	roam; roamed; roamed	to strive	to roam
Rat	rede*	advice; council	help; advice; counsel; decision; a plan	ræd		*rēdaz
rauben; raubte; (ge)raubt	reave*; reft*/reaved*; reft*/reaved*	to rob	to plunder, to rob, to deprive	reafian		*raubōną
Recke*	wretch	valiant	wretch	wræċċa, wreċċa		*wrakjô
reihen; reihte; (ge)reiht	wry*; wried*; wried*	to tack, to crimp	to clothe, to cover, to hide	wrēon		*wrīhaną
röten; rötete; (ge)rötet	rud*; rudded*; rudded*	to redden	redness, blush	rudian		*rudāną
(ge)ruhen (chiefly); (ge)ruhte; (ge)ruht	reck*; recked*; recked*	to deign, to condescend	to heed, to concern, to think			*rōkijaną
Rute	rood*	rod	cross	rōd (“cross”)		*rōdō
Sage	saw*	legend, tale, fable	saying	saga	sǫg	*sagō, *sagǭ
Sang* [m]	song	chant, singing	song	sang, song	sǫngr	*sangwaz
Schinde*	skin	fruit peel	skin		skinne	*skinþą
Schlacht [f]	slaught*	killing, battle	killing, slaughter
schneiden; schnitt; (ge)schnitten	snithe*; snothe*/snithed*; snithen*/snithed*	to cut, to trim, to slice	to cut	snīþan	sníða	*snīþaną
sehrig*	sorry	sore, sad, painful	sorry	sāriġ		*sairagaz
Seil [n]	sole*	rope, cable, wire	A wooden band or yoke put around the neck of an ox or a cow in the stall	sāl	seil	*sailą
sonder	sunder* (adj.)	special, set apart	sundry, separate, different	sundor-	sundr	*sundraz
Stimme	steven*	voice	voice	stefn		*stebnō, *stamnijō
streuen; streute; (ge)streut	strew*; strewed*; strewn*/strewed*	to strew, to scatter, to sprinkle, to spread	to spread, to cover	strewian, strēawian, strēowian	strá	*strawjaną
Suhle	sole*	mire, wallow	a dirty pond of standing water	sol		*sulą
summ(ige)*	some	some	some	sum	sumr	*sumaz
taugen; taugte; (ge)taugt	dow*; dought*/dowed*; dought*/dowed*	to be fit	to be worth, to be of use; to thrive	dugan	duga	*duganą
Ufer [n]	over*	shore, riverbank	shore, riverbank	ōfer, ōbr		*ōferaz
verhungert	forhungered*	starving; famished	very hungry; starving
Wagen [m]	wain*	car, vehicle	wagon	wæġn		*wagnaz
Wald [m]	wald*/weald*/wold*	forest	forest	weald		*walþuz
walten	wald*	to prevail, to dominate	to govern, to inherit	wealdan	valda	*waldaną
Wat*	weed*		clothing, garment, piece of clothing	wǣd		*wēdiz
Wecken* [m]	wedge	loaf, roll	wedge	wecg		*wagjaz
wehren; wehrte; (ge)wehrt	wear*; wore*/weared*; worn*/weared*	to defend, to fight	to defend	werian	verja	*warjaną
werben; warb; (ge)worben	wharve*; whorf*/wharved*; whorven*/wharved*	to recruit, to advertize	to turn, to turn over	hweorfan		*hwerbaną
werden; wurde; (ge)worden	worth*; worth*/worthed*; worth*/worthen*/worthed*	to become	to be; to become
Wicht [m]	wight*	gnome	a living creature	wiht	vítr	*wihtiz
Wiebel*	weevil	beetle, chafer	weevil
Wisch*	whisk	wisp; sheet of paper	whisk		visk	*wiskaz
wissen ; wusste; (ge)wusst	wit*/wot*; wist*; wist*	to know	to know, to be aware of	witan	vita	*witaną
Wurm [m]	wyrm*	worm	dragon	wyrm		*wurmiz
Zagel*	tail	tail	tail	tæġl, tæġel	tagl	*taglą
Zähre*	tear	tear	tear	tǣr, tēar	tár	*tahrą
zeisen*; zeiste*; (ge)zeist*	tease; teased; teased	to pluck, to pull apart	to tease	tǣsan		Proto-West Germanic *taisijan
Zeitung [f]	tiding*	newspaper	news
zittern; zitterte; (ge)zittert	didder*; diddered*; diddered*	to shiver, to tremble, to vibrate	to rattle; to shiver
zween*	twain*	two	two	twēġen		*twai
zwei	twain*	two	two	twēġen		*twai
zwink(er)n; zwink(er)t; (ge)zwink(er)t	twink*; twinked*; twinked*	to blink, to wink	to twinkle; to wink