Fenn

See also: fenn and fenn-

English

Etymology

• As an English topographic surname, from the noun fen.
• As a south German surname, from Fenn (“bog, swamp”), related to the above. Compare Fehn.
• As a Chinese surname, from 馮 / 冯, compare Feng.

Proper noun

Fenn

1. A surname.

German

Alternative forms

• Fenne
• Venn (see usage notes)

Etymology

From Middle Low German venne, from Old Saxon fenni, from Proto-West Germanic *fani, from Proto-Germanic *fanją.

The word did exist in High German (Old High German fenni), but Middle High German venne is rare and the word was later lost in Upper German and most dialects of Central German. The modern form is therefore based chiefly on the Low German lineage.

Cognate with Dutch veen, Walloon fagne (also Walloon fa and Walloon fwè, both only in toponymy) and French fange.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɛn/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Homophone: Fan

Noun

Fenn n (strong, genitive Fennes or Fenns, plural Fenne)

1. (regional, northern and central Germany) mire, bog, fen

   Synonyms: Moor, Sumpf

Usage notes

The word is rather rare in free use but common in geographical names, in which it is sometimes spelt Venn (most prominently in Hohes Venn).

Declension

Declension of Fenn [neuter, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	das	Fenn	die	Fenne
genitive	eines	des	Fennes, Fenns	der	Fenne
dative	einem	dem	Fenn, Fenne1	den	Fennen
accusative	ein	das	Fenn	die	Fenne

¹Now rare, see notes.

Further reading

• “Fenn” in Duden online