Geiß

See also: geiss, Geiss, and géiss

German

Alternative forms

• Geiss (Switzerland, Liechtenstein)

Etymology

From Middle High German and Old High German geiz, from Proto-West Germanic *gait.

Cognate with Dutch geit, English goat, Danish ged, Icelandic geit, Swedish get, Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌹𐍄𐍃 (gaits); and with Latin haedus (“kid”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡaɪ̯s/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪ̯s

Noun

Geiß f (genitive Geiß, plural Geißen, diminutive Geißlein n)

1. (regional) goat (species)

   Synonym: Ziege

2. (regional) she-goat

   Synonyms: Zicke, Ziege

   Antonyms: Geißbock, Ziegenbock

3. female roe deer

   Synonym: Ricke

   Antonym: Rehbock

Usage notes

• In standard German, the word is now widely restricted to southern Germany and Austria, although many dialects in northern and central Germany have also traditionally used Geiß or cognates thereof (compare Dutch geit). The derivative Geißbock (“billy goat”) remains somewhat more widespread than Geiß itself.

Declension

Declension of Geiß [feminine]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	eine	die	Geiß	die	Geißen
genitive	einer	der	Geiß	der	Geißen
dative	einer	der	Geiß	den	Geißen
accusative	eine	die	Geiß	die	Geißen

Derived terms

• Geißlein n

Related terms

• Geißbock m
• Geißblatt, Geißenkäse

See also

• Bock m
• Zicke f
• Ziegenbock m

Further reading

• “Geiß” in Duden online
• “Geiß” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache