Spatz

See also: spatz

Alemannic German

Alternative forms
  • Schpatz

Etymology

From Middle High German spaz, spatze, a diminutive of spare, from Old High German sparo (“sparrow”), from Proto-West Germanic *sparwō. Cognate with German Spatz.

Noun

Spatz m (plural Spatze, diminutive Spätzli)

  1. sparrow

German

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ʃpats/
  • Rhymes: -ats
  • audio(file)

Etymology 1

From Middle High German sparwe, from the diminutive of Old High German sparo, formed with -izo or -zo, as in the first names Heinz, Kunz. Compare Sperling.

Noun

Spatz m (weak or mixed, genitive Spatzen or Spatzes, plural Spatzen)

  1. (especially southern and western) sparrow
  2. (ornithology, technical) house sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Declension
Declension of Spatz [masculine, weak // mixed]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Spatz die Spatzen
genitive eines des Spatzen, Spatzes der Spatzen
dative einem dem Spatzen, Spatz, Spatze1 den Spatzen
accusative einen den Spatzen, Spatz die Spatzen

1Now uncommon, see notes.

  • The word may have weak or mixed declension in the standard language.
Synonyms
  • (sparrow): Sperling
  • (house sparrow): Haussperling
Derived terms
Descendants
  • → Luxembourgish: Spatz

Etymology 2

From Etymology 1, but with a different plural on the model of the rhyming word Schatz.

Noun

Spatz m (strong, genitive Spatzes, plural Spätze)

  1. an affectionate nickname, mostly used towards children, more seldom towards lovers, almost never with friends
    Hallo, mein Spatz! ― Hello, sweetie!
    Hallo, meine Spätze! ― Hello, my darlings!
Declension
Declension of Spatz [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Spatz die Spätze
genitive eines des Spatzes der Spätze
dative einem dem Spatz, Spatze1 den Spätzen
accusative einen den Spatz die Spätze

1Now uncommon, see notes.

Further reading
  • “Spatz” in Duden online
  • “Spatz” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Luxembourgish
e Spatz

Etymology

Form German Spatz.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ʃpɑts/
    Rhymes: -ɑts
    Homophone: spatz

Noun

Spatz m (plural Spatzen)

  1. sparrow

Synonyms
  • Mësch (the originally Luxembourgish word)
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