Schwester

Alternative forms

• Sester, Söster (obsolete)

Etymology

From Old High German swester, from Proto-Germanic *swestēr, from Proto-Indo-European *swésōr. The native form, at least in western dialects, is Söster with swe- → sü- (compare Dutch zuster). The modern form is based on German Schwester.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃʋɛstʌ/

Noun

Schwester f (plural Schwestere, diminutive Schwesterche)

1. sister

   Meng Schwester es net ens e Johr aaler wie ich.

   My sister is less than a year older than me.

2. nun
3. nurse

Alternative forms

• Schw. (abbreviation)

Etymology

From Old High German swester, from Proto-Germanic *swestēr, from Proto-Indo-European *swésōr. Compare Low German swester, Dutch zuster, English sister, Danish søster, Swedish syster.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃvɛstɐ/, [ˈʃʋɛstɐ]

• audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛstɐ

Noun

Schwester f (genitive Schwester, plural Schwestern)

1. sister

   Meine Schwester kommt morgen.

   My sister is coming tomorrow.

2. (chiefly colloquial, short for Krankenschwester) nurse; by extension used to refer to any medical staff that is not a doctor (usually, but not necessarily, confined to female staff)
3. nurse; used as a title of address for nurses
4. (Christianity) sister; nun; used particularly, but not only, as a title of address

Further reading

• Schwester in Duden online