wagen

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʋaːɣə(n)/
• Rhymes: -aːɣən

• audio

  (file)

Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch wagen, from Old Dutch wagan, from Proto-Germanic *wagnaz, from Proto-Indo-European *woǵʰnos, from *weǵʰ-.

Etymology 2

From Middle Dutch wagen. Cognate with German wagen.

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Etymology 3

From Middle Dutch wagen, from Old Dutch *wagon, from Proto-Germanic *wagōną.

Etymology 4

See etymology on the main entry.

Etymology

From Middle High German wāgen, from Old High German wāga (“scales, balance; weight”), in the sense of to venture on a new object's weight. More at Waage.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈvaːɡən/, [ˈvaːɡŋ̩]

• Audio (Austria)

  (file)

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aːɡn̩
• Homophones: Wagen, Waagen
• Hyphenation: wa‧gen

Verb

wagen (third-person singular simple present wagt, past tense wagte, past participle gewagt, auxiliary haben)

1. to venture, dare
2. to risk, jeopardize

Further reading

• wagen in Duden online

Etymology 1

From Old Dutch *wagan, from Proto-Germanic *wagnaz.

Etymology 2

From Old Dutch *wagon, from Proto-Germanic *wagōną.

Etymology 3

From wâge +‎ -en.

Further reading

• “waghen (I)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• “waghen (II)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• “waghen (IV)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• “wagen (I)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, 1929
• “wagen (II)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, 1929
• “wagen (VI)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, 1929

Alternative forms

• wage, wajon, wagge

Etymology

From Old Northern French wagier; equivalent to wage +‎ -en (“verbal suffix”). Doublet of wedden.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwaːdʒən/

Verb

wagen

1. (transitive) To employ, use, or utilise a person.
2. (transitive) To give an item or a person as security or as a guarantee.
3. (transitive) To risk, potentially endanger.
4. (transitive, rare) To promise to avoid.