German

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Etymology

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Borrowed from German Low German form that in standard usage replaced High German dämisch, damisch from the same source. Various theories about the etymology have been suggested:

  • It may be cognate with Latin tēmētum.
  • It may be related to taumeln (to tumble), but this is unlikely since forms with t- are not attested.
  • It may be related to dämmern (to become dim), but this is also rejected by the Duden and Kluge.
  • The Duden derives it from the Low German verb dämelen "not quite in one's right mind".
  • Kluge suggests it is from Proto-Germanic *þēm-, which (along with the Latin cognate tēmulentus (drunk)) is from Proto-Indo-European *tem- (dazed, numbed).

It is not related to Dame, despite popular folk etymology.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈdɛːmlɪç/ (standard; used naturally in western Germany and Switzerland)
  • IPA(key): /ˈdeːmlɪç/ (overall more common; particularly northern and eastern regions)
  • Audio:(file)
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: däm‧lich

Adjective

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dämlich (strong nominative masculine singular dämlicher, comparative dämlicher, superlative am dämlichsten)

  1. very stupid

Declension

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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