Unding

German

Etymology

From Middle High German undinc, undinge, equivalent to un- +‎ Ding (“thing”). Compare Dutch onding, West Frisian ûnding, English unthing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʊnˌdɪŋ/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Unding n (strong, genitive Undinges or Undings, plural Undinge)

1. something that is unheard of, unacceptable, and/or immoral
2. nonsense; something absurd

Declension

Declension of Unding [neuter, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	das	Unding	die	Undinge
genitive	eines	des	Undinges, Undings	der	Undinge
dative	einem	dem	Unding, Undinge1	den	Undingen
accusative	ein	das	Unding	die	Undinge

¹Now rare, see notes.

Further reading

• “Unding” in Duden online
• “Unding” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Unding” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.