German

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Middle Low German brēgen, from Old Saxon *bregin, *bragan, from Proto-West Germanic *bragn, from Proto-Germanic *bragną. Cognate with Old English bræġn / bræġen, Dutch brein, English brain.[1]

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈbreːɡən/, [ˈbʁeːɡŋ̍], [ˈbʁeːɡn̩], [ˈbʁeːɡən]
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

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Bregen m (strong, genitive Bregens, no plural)

  1. (regional, chiefly Northern Germany) (animal) brain
    Synonym: Hirn
  2. (humorous) head
    Synonym: Schädel

Usage notes

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  • The simple noun is chiefly restricted to the technical language of butchers, farmers, huntsmen; but Bregenwurst is a common term for a traditional sausage in northern Germany.

Declension

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Derived terms

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References

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  1. ^ Friedrich Kluge (1883) “Brägen”, in John Francis Davis, transl., Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, published 1891

Further reading

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