I recently realized that two different variants for the german word Alptraum (nightmare) exist, one with /p/ and one with /b/. Both seem to be commonly used.
I think I recognize the word Alp as a medieval word for some kind of demon or ghoul. That may be the origin of the word Alptraum, but it's possible the spelling has changed in the meantime.
My question is: Does it matter which of these variants you use?
The Alb part is related to "Elf" or "Elbe", which are mythical creatures (like kobolds or goblins) believed to have been sitting on your chest while you were sleeping (and having a nightmare). A synonym for Albtraum is Albdruck ("elf-pressure") (See Wiktionary). There is a wide variety of different ways of spelling those creatures' names, and they will have regionally different names too.
The word alp is a Middle High German form, and in the past spelling was not standardised.
I have come across both forms, and being from North Germany I seem to remember that Alptraum was more commonly used (Albtraum being more frequent in Southern Germany), but that both were equivalent variations.
I think I recognize the word "Alp" as a medieval word for some kind of demon or ghoul. That may be the origin of the word "Alptraum"
Correct, but according to the German Wikipedia page, which refers to "Duden Herkunftswörterbuch", both variants exist since medieval and both are equal.
It's actually not possible to recommend the one or the other.
"Alp" does also mean "mountain pasture" and, of course, words referring to that mountains begin with "Alp...".
So maybe "Albtraum" is the better choice?
However, there are geographic regions like "Fränkische Alb" or "Schwäbische Alb", which have nothing to do with the meaning of "Alb" in "Albtraum".
For these names, Wikipedia says: "Alb" was formerly supposed to come from Latin "montes albi" (white mountains), but more likely it was a celtic word for "mountain pasture".
After all, it's really up to you which variant to use.
Coming from Frankonia, where "p" is anyway spoken as "b", I would prefer "Albtraum".
But I would never argue with someone stronger who insists on "Alptraum" being the one any only correct word - this could end up in a nightmare... ;-)
b but in addition to previous spelling rules today both are accepted because both versions have a valid etymologic root.
Both versions are correct according to Duden and Wahrig dictionaries. The written media uses more often "Alptraum", so this should be the prefered word. If it's spoken there isn't much difference between p and b (especially depending on the dialect used).
