Kartoffel

See also: kartoffel

German

Etymology

From older Tartuffel or Tartüffel (18th c.), from Italian tartufolo, diminutive of tartufo (“truffle”), from Medieval Latin *territūberum or Latin terrae tūber (“tuber of the earth”).

The use as an ethnic nickname is due to the prominence of potatoes in German cuisine, particularly vis-à-vis the cuisines of the major immigrant communities in the country. (Compare the corresponding Spaghetti used to refer to Italians.)

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kaʁˈtɔfəl/, [kaʁˈtɔfl̩], [kaɐ̯-], [-fəl] (standard)
  • IPA(key): /kɐˈtɔfəl/ (common)
  • audio (Austria)(file)
  • Audio(file)

Noun

Kartoffel f (genitive Kartoffel, plural Kartoffeln)

  1. potato
  2. (derogatory) a German; particularly an ethnic German from the perspective of allochthone populations in Germany

Declension

Synonyms

  • Erdapfel (Austria, Switzerland, Southern Germany)
  • Erdbirne (rare)
  • Grumbeer (rare)
  • Grumbeere (rare, Southwestern Germany)
  • Herdapfel (rare, Southern Germany, Switzerland)
  • Grundbirne (rare)
  • Bramburi (obsolete, Austria)

Derived terms

Descendants

Further reading

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