Questions tagged [person-names]
The person-names tag has no usage guidance.
4
votes
1answer
114 views
We are (called) the Smiths
How does one pluralize a family name?
Wir heißen den Smiths? der Smithen?
Wir sind die Smith Familie?
Which of these is most natural, and which are acceptable?
3
votes
1answer
103 views
Cornelsen - Why pronounced with long “e”
I know the syllable structure is cor-nel-sen
So it should be pronounced with a short "e", isn't it?
Or maybe because it is a last name the rules don't apply here?
9
votes
2answers
573 views
What is the 'mit A-Y' in 'ist dort die Firma Mayer mit A-Y'?
I see this conversation in Studio 21:
A: »Heier«
B: »Guten Morgen, ist dort die Firma Mayer mit A-Y?«
A: »Nein, hier ist Heier. HEIER.«
B: »Oh, Entschuldigung ...«
What is the ‘mit A-Y’?
0
votes
2answers
92 views
Johannes Nazaräer? (Articles)
The Nazarener were a 19th century German religious art movement. Preferring Nazaräer to Nazarener (because Nazarener is commonly thought to derive etymologically from the geographical Nazaret), how ...
10
votes
1answer
139 views
“Von neumannsche Ordinalzahlen” oder “von Neumann'sche Ordinalzahlen”?
Sofern ich weiß sind sowohl grimmsche Märchen und Grimm'sche Märchen korrekt.
Was passiert wenn das Adjektiv von einem mehrteiligen Namen kommt, zum Beispiel von Neumann.
Welche Formen sind korrekt ...
1
vote
1answer
252 views
How does one come up with good German names for a submissive girl? [closed]
I am a sub to a Dom and would like to change my name to celebrate this. What are ways to choose a good German name for this?
5
votes
3answers
492 views
How to pronounce Zoe(y), Lucy, Amy and Stella as German names?
I noticed that there are German friends who have such English-like names.
I pronounce these names in English as:
Zoe(y): ZO-ee, /zoːi/
Lucy: LOO-see, /luːsi/
Amy: AY-mee, /eimi/
Stella: STEL-ə, /...
3
votes
2answers
97 views
Die historische Verwendung von Femininsuffixe auf Namen
Der Text auf diesem Gemälde wundert mich.
Die Ehefrau Barbara vom Uhrmacher Sebastian Baumann in Friedberg
Warum steht hier Barbara Baumannin und nicht Baumann ? Ist das -in ein Femininsuffix oder ...
0
votes
1answer
70 views
Need help about usage of “von”
I got confused about the usage of the word. "Von" can be written "Von" if it started in front of the sentence or "v." if abbreviated accroding to The Duden.
What about if you write it in sentences, "...
3
votes
3answers
153 views
Personennamen: Genitiv-Spezialfall?
In einem Buch ist mir der Genitiv untergekommen:
... und spielte zwei oder drei Lieder Walther von der Vogelweides.
Mir ist schon klar, dass der Satz mit einem andere Namen, etwa Franz Schuberts, ...
0
votes
2answers
110 views
How does the name Ilja for a girl sounds in german?
My wife wants to name our daughter Ilja (Ilya) but I think this name is reserved as a Slavic Male name. Is that the connotation in Germany also? What do you think? Are there any female Ilja in germany ...
6
votes
3answers
107 views
Dialekte mit Vorname + Artikel, wann kein Artikel erlaubt?
Viele Dialekte benutzen Vornamen generell mit Artikeln (zumindest in der Alltagssprache), wie z.B.:
Weißt du, wo der Peter ist?
Ich treffe mich morgen mit der Susi.
Ich gehe nachher zum Frank.
Ich ...
2
votes
2answers
66 views
Dative after 'von' with compound personal names
The preposition von takes the dative in German, but I'm unsure how to form the dative of a "compound" personal name like Karl der Große. As a proper noun, Karl does not change, but does der Große ...
3
votes
1answer
300 views
How will the name Vega be pronounced in German?
With an /f/ or with a /v/ (f and v like in English..)?
And while we're at it, How does this name sound in German? Does it have any bad associations?
5
votes
3answers
145 views
Vor- oder Nachname, um mit einer Person über eine andere zu sprechen
Ich habe zwei Kollegen: Hans Müller und Josef Meier. Ich bin mit beiden "per Du", spreche also beide mit dem Vornamen an. Die beiden sind untereinander "per Sie", sprechen sich gegenseitig also mit ...
6
votes
5answers
2k views
How do you pronounce 'René', a German male given name, in German?
I have to transcribe a German male's name into another language.
His name is written 'René', as in 'René Descartes', except it's a German first name.
My German knowledge is very shallow, so I'd like ...
4
votes
2answers
145 views
Bindestriche in Komposita mit Eigennamen und anderen Substantiven
In der Physik ist es üblich Konzepte, Phänomene und Gleichungen nach ihren Entdeckern oder Entdeckerinnen zu benennen. Meist kommen hierbei Bindestriche zwischen den Namensgebenden und dem Konzept zum ...
1
vote
0answers
99 views
3
votes
0answers
68 views
What is the meaning of the name “Fahrenheit” (or its etymology)? [duplicate]
What is the definition of the noun "Fahrenheit" (or the etymology of the name)? In Wiktionary it says "the surname literally means "experience", but I don't find any evidence of this in the Wahrig or ...
3
votes
1answer
249 views
What does the surname “Hoerster” mean?
As you can see from my username, my surname is "Hoerster." Before the Hoersters came over to the United States from Prussia, and before that, Germany itself, they spelled their surname as Hörster. ...
3
votes
2answers
219 views
Meaning of “von Weizsäcker”
Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker was a famous physicist and his brother, Richard von Weizsäcker was German president. What does their last name mean?
I have two theories:
Weizsäcker = Weiz + Säcker
...
5
votes
2answers
821 views
What does a “Holzmacher” do?
What does a Holzmacher do, or what is their job? Is it a common last name? It seems to be literally, wood maker or wood doer. Is the name used to describe a carpenter, craftsmen or lumberjack?
3
votes
1answer
88 views
“dass sie es dem Werther gleichtaten” – what does the article mean here? [duplicate]
Eine tragische Liebesgeschichte, die manche Leser so ergriff, dass sie es dem Werther gleichtaten und ihrem irdischen Dasein ein Ende setzten.
As Werther is a name for a person, what does dem stand ...
5
votes
1answer
110 views
IPA von Haeckel (Hegel, Händel, …)
Ich bin mir unsicher, ob und wie ich die IPA-Wiedergabe von Haeckel im englischen Wikipediartikel über Ernst Haeckel korrigieren oder ergänzen soll.
Dort steht [ˈhɛkəl], mir scheint aber auch [ˈhɛkl̩]...
7
votes
4answers
746 views
Pronunciation of “Leonhard Euler”
In almost every source I know, Euler has been pronounced as /ˈȯi-lər/ . Nevertheless, in a number of books translated to other languages, it is mentioned as: /ˈjuːlər/ . I doubt in it incorrectness, ...
0
votes
2answers
176 views
Using the genitive form of Christus in German
I recently asked a question regarding the proper German translation of Jesus Christ. I was told that Christ was Christus, and the genitive form was Christi. So I would just like some help ...
9
votes
2answers
4k views
What is the proper translation/name of Jesus Christ in German?
I’ve seen Jesus (pronounced 'Yey-zoos, IPA: /ˈjeː.zʊs/) as the German name of Jesus ('Jee-zus /ˈdʒiː.zəs/), is that correct?
For Christ (Kryst /kraɪst/), I’ve seen Christus (Krist-oos /ˈkʀɪs.tʊs/), ...
6
votes
2answers
352 views
What does the name “Furtwängler” mean?
Is this an occupational surname? If so, what is a Furtwängler?
“Furt” might be a ford, but my web searching has not found any gloss for “Wängler”.
10
votes
1answer
1k views
Ist „FAMILIENNAME Vorname“ akzeptabel auf einer deutschen Visitenkarte, wenn mein Name nicht der westlichen Namensordnung folgt?
Mein Name wird normalerweise nicht gemäß der westlichen Namensordnung geschrieben, sondern als Familienname Vorname. Es ist mir aber schon öfter passiert, dass ich darauf geachtet habe, in deutschen ...
8
votes
3answers
805 views
Pronunciation of the surname Ruhle
I live in Australia and I had a big family gathering over the weekend. We know that our ancestors moved to Australia from Germany in the late 1800s.
There was a big argument over how to properly ...
6
votes
3answers
229 views
The literal meaning and origin of the name “Thallman”
My mother’s maiden name is Thallman. Her side of the family is German in heritage, and due to some diligent work by my grandfather, we are able to trace my families blood back through many generations,...
15
votes
3answers
585 views
Gödel but Noether?
Kurt Gödel and Emmy Noether are both prominent mathematicians.
And I’m wondering why so many people write Gödel with umlaut but not Nöther.
I’ve searched and found here asserting that
Only Noether ...
5
votes
1answer
186 views
Origin of the surname Bargfleth
What do Barg and Fleth mean when put together? This is a family name of mine and I’m trying to trace it. There is a place called Barg in either northern Germany or southern Denmark and Fleth I’m a ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Die Aussprache der Endung -ow
Diese Frage wurde auch hier (auf Englisch) beantwortet:
Why is the -ow in place names pronounced the way it is?
Warum wird in Orts- und Familiennamen wie Pankow, Treptow und Bülow der Buchstabe w ...
13
votes
5answers
3k views
Use of ss or ß in a surname
In the German surname Voss, can ss be used interchangeably with ß? In Berlin there is a street spelled Voßstraße, which I understand to translate to Voss Street. But I am not sure if someone with this ...
4
votes
2answers
142 views
What are the rules to forming noun compositions like 'Hesse-Matrix'?
I stumbled over the term "Hesse-Matrix". A matrix is a mathematical object and a Hesse-Matrix is a particular matrix named after mathematician Ludwig Otto Hesse.
My first question is whether this ...
7
votes
2answers
517 views
The name construct: <Vorname> <Nachname>+ genannt +<Nachname>; where does it originate from?
The question I have is probably a bit strange. It is about my name, more specifically my second name. My second name has the following form: <nachname1>+ genannt +<nachname2>.
Two second names ...
10
votes
4answers
323 views
Wie liest man Nummern in Namen wie “Elisabeth II.” vor?
Wir freuen uns auf den Besuch von Königin Elisabeth II.
Wie spricht man "Königin Elisabeth II." aus? Liest man es immer als Genitiv (Elisabeth der Zweiten) vor?
2
votes
2answers
419 views
What is the meaning of the name Ziesenis or Zieseniss?
One of my ancestral surnames is Ziesenis and I'd like to know what it means. They were Prussian immigrants to the US back in the 1800s.
1
vote
1answer
527 views
What might the names “Loeffler” and “Loeffelmacher” mean?
This question is not so much about language and grammar, but what I want to know is what could possibly be the origin of these two last names? Loeffler is a fairly common last name, Loeffelmacher is ...
5
votes
1answer
754 views
How to address people with a preposition in their family name properly?
This question also has an answer here (in German):
Wie werden Namen von Adligen in Briefadressen korrekt angegeben?
As in other languages, sometimes you can encounter German names with prepositions ...
1
vote
1answer
304 views
Origin of the name “Lichfett”?
Does someone know where the family name Lichfett comes from? I met this name in Brazil. Is it perhaps only a modified version of Lichtfett?
0
votes
1answer
198 views
What's the correct American translation for the family name “Würker”?
I'm interested to know the correct American English form of Würker.
Any general background information on this name's roots would also probably prove insightful as well.
Thanks! :)
8
votes
1answer
479 views
Last name Fahnel pronunciation
Our last name is Fahnel which is German and I wanted to know the correct way to pronounce it. Some relatives believe it is pronounced Fennel like the spice but I believe it is either Fah-nel or Fohnel....
7
votes
6answers
3k views
Using definite article with people's names
So, in looking at some fairly basic German conversations, I came across the following:
Hallo, wie heißt du?
Ich heiße Susanne. Und du?
Ich bin der Martin. Und wer ist das?
Das ist ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
Typical German family names (for Americans) [closed]
Which last names do Amercians consider typically German?
I don't mean which are the most common family names in Germany, but which names signal their German origin the most and feel most common to ...
2
votes
1answer
7k views
Particle “ter” in german surnames such as Marc-André ter Stegen. Does it mean something?
I read the football news and I have a non-football question now.
Does the particle "ter" mean something in a such kind of german names as Marc-André ter Stegen?
Are there other particles?
9
votes
1answer
224 views
Nennen Sie mich
Ihr könnt mich einen Dummkopf nennen (das dann auf jeden Fall mit Akkusativ), aber wie heißt es?
Nennen Sie mich Herrn Meier.
Nennen Sie mich Herr Meier.
Nennen Sie mich "Herr Meier".
...
16
votes
8answers
2k views
Ist es unhöflich, Vornamen mit Artikel zu erwähnen?
Klingt es unhöflich die Vornamen, mit einem vorgestellten Artikeln zu sagen?
z.B. Der Hans ist bei der Helga.
3
votes
1answer
94 views
Regel für Abtrennung des Vornamens vom vorangestellten Nachnamen
Wo steht die Regel, dass der vorangestellte Nachname vom nachfolgend geschriebenen Vornamen durch ein Komma getrennt wird?
