See also: spuk

German

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 Spuk on German Wikipedia

Etymology

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17th century, from Middle Low German spōk, from Old Saxon *spōk, from Proto-Germanic *spōk. Cognate with Dutch spook, whence English spook.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ʃpuːk/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

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Spuk m (strong, genitive Spukes or Spuks, plural Spuke)

  1. (usually uncountable) collective word for apparitions or actions of ghosts, haunting, supernatural (usually frightening) occurrences
    Wenn es kein Spuk war, muss es eine natürliche Erklärung geben.
    If it wasn't ghosts, there must be a natural explanation for it.
  2. (uncountable, informal) any set of unusual occurrences, often stressful, but not necessarily negative
    Der ganze Spuk mit der Hochzeit hat bisher eigentlich ganz gut geklappt.
    All those dealings with the wedding have actually worked out pretty well up until now.
    Mein Sohn hatte gestern einen Freund zur Übernachtung da und die beiden haben ganz schön Spuk gemacht.
    My son had a friend staying over last night and the two were a bit boisterous.
  3. (countable, obsolete) a ghost, spectre
    Synonyms: Gespenst, Geist

Declension

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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