Kappes

See also: kappes

Central Franconian

Alternative forms

• Kabbes (Moselle Franconian)

Etymology

From Middle High German kabez, kappuz, kappiz, from Old High German kabuz, from Medieval Latin caputia, from Latin caput (“head”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkapəs/

Noun

Kappes m (plural Kappesse)

1. (Ripuarian) cabbage (Brassica oleracea)

   Häste keine Kappes metjebrat?

   Didn't you bring any cabbage?

2. (Ripuarian, figuratively) nonsense

   Verzäll mer keine Kappes!

   Don't tell me such nonsense!

German

Alternative forms

• Kabis, Kabbis, Kappus, Kabs, Kaps, Kobis, Koppis

Etymology

From western German dialects including Central Franconian Kappes (“cabbage”). The meaning “nonsense” might be a loan translation of Kohl (etymology 2), the origins of which are quite unclear, however.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkapəs/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Kappes m (strong, genitive Kappes, no plural) (Upper German, West Central German)

1. cabbage, Brassica oleracea

   Synonyms: Weißkraut, Weißkohl

   Ich mach heut' Abend Kappes-Durcheinander.

   I'm making a cabbage stew for dinner.

2. nonsense

   Synonyms: Unsinn, Kokolores, Kalaumes, Käse, Quark, Quatsch

   Erzähl mir keinen Kappes!

   Don't tell me such nonsense!

Usage notes

• In its original meaning “cabbage”, the word is in the 21st century limited to western Germany and declining. In the figurative meaning, however, it is better known and indeed heard supraregionally, though marked as Rhenish as close as Eastern Westphalia.

Declension

Declension of Kappes [sg-only, masculine, strong]

	singular
	indef.	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Kappes
genitive	eines	des	Kappes
dative	einem	dem	Kappes
accusative	einen	den	Kappes

Further reading

• “Kappes” in Duden online
• “Kappes” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Kappes” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon