ärch

See also: arch, ARCH, arch-, -arch, and arch.

Central Franconian

Alternative forms

• ärg (Colognian Academy spelling)
• arch (Moselle Franconian)

Etymology

From Old High German arg (“evil; corrupt; cowardly”), from Proto-Germanic *argaz, with regular -ar- → -ęr- before a non-dental consonant. Compare the same in Dutch erg. The adverbial sense “very” is found throughout western varieties of continental Germanic. See Hunsrik aarich and Pennsylvania German arrig.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛʀɕ/, /ˈɛʀəɕ/

Adjective

ärch (masculine ärje, feminine and plural ärch or ärje, comparative ärjer, superlative et ärchste)

1. (Ripuarian, chiefly of things, events) bad; tremendous

   Ich hann en ärch Peng em Foß.

   I have a bad pain in my foot.

Adverb

ärch (comparative ärjer, superlative et ärchste)

1. (Ripuarian) badly; terribly

   Driev et net ze ärch!

   Don′t go too far!

   (literally, “Don’t do it too badly!”)

Adverb

ärch (comparative mieh, superlative et mieste or mietste or mieschte)

1. (Ripuarian) very; much; a lot

   Du bes enen ärch leeve Jong.

   You’re a very kind boy.