Pfaffe

German

Etymology

From Middle High German pfaffe, from Old High German pfaffo, phaffo, an early borrowing from Gothic 𐍀𐌰𐍀𐌰 (papa) demonstrating the effects of the High German consonant shift, from Ancient Greek πάπας (pápas). Cognate to Dutch paap. Doublet of Papst.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈp͡fafə/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Pfaffe m (weak, genitive Pfaffen, plural Pfaffen)

1. (now derogatory) cleric, clergyman

   Synonyms: Geistlicher, Kleriker

   • 1808, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust: Der Tragödie erster Teil [Faust, Part One]‎^[1]:

     Da die? Sie kam von ihrem Pfaffen, / Der sprach sie aller Sünden frey;

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Usage notes

The term was originally neutral, but since about the time of the Reformation it ceased to be used with any positive tone; usage today is derogatory.

Declension

Declension of Pfaffe [masculine, weak]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Pfaffe	die	Pfaffen
genitive	eines	des	Pfaffen	der	Pfaffen
dative	einem	dem	Pfaffen	den	Pfaffen
accusative	einen	den	Pfaffen	die	Pfaffen

Derived terms

• Pfäffchen
• Pfaffenhofen

Further reading

• “Pfaffe” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Pfaffe” in Duden online