Schöfer

Central Franconian

Alternative forms

• Schäfer (most of Moselle Franconian)
• Schiefer, Schiffer (scattered variants, especially western)

Etymology

From Middle High German schæfære. Equivalent to Schof (“sheep”) +‎ -er. In a majority of dialects the expected form is that with /i(ː)/, but the inherited umlaut was replaced with analogical umlaut after the primary noun. See the same variation in Westphalian Schaiper vs. Schäöper. Compare also Limburgish sjieper, Luxembourgish Schéifer.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃœːfʌ/

Noun

Schöfer m (plural Schöfer)

1. (most of Ripuarian) shepherd