German

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 fensterln on German Wikipedia

Etymology

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From the South German dialectal diminutive Fensterl (small window), from Fenster.

Pronunciation

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  • Audio (Austria):(file)
  • IPA(key): /ˈfɛnstɐln/

Verb

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fensterln (weak, third-person singular present fensterlt, past tense fensterlte, past participle gefensterlt, auxiliary haben)

  1. (Southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland) to visit a girl, who is the object of one's affections, at night either by coming to her window or by climbing through it into her room
    • 1996, Roland Girtler, Sommergetreide: vom Untergang der bäuerlichen Kultur, p. 105:
      Die Alten waren zwar selber einmal jung und haben auch gefensterlt, aber trotzdem haben sie gepaßt.
      The old men were indeed young once themselves and have visited girls at night, but nevertheless they have been suitable.

Conjugation

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Further reading

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