Spatz

See also: spatz

Alemannic German

Alternative forms

• Schpatz

Etymology

From Middle High German spaz, spatze, a diminutive of spare, from Old High German sparo (“sparrow”), from Proto-West Germanic *sparwō. Cognate with German Spatz.

Noun

Spatz m (plural Spatze, diminutive Spätzli)

1. sparrow

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃpats/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ats

Etymology 1

From Middle High German spaz, spatze, from a diminutive of sparwe, from Old High German sparo + -izo (compare Wanze and names like Fritz, Heinz, Kunz). Related with Sperling.

Noun

Spatz m (mixed or weak, genitive Spatzes or Spatzen, plural Spatzen)

1. (especially southern and western) sparrow

   Synonym: Sperling

2. (ornithology, technical) house sparrow (Passer domesticus)

   Synonym: Haussperling

Usage notes

• Though most dictionaries prescribe weak singular forms, the mixed declension has always existed alongside. It is predominant in speech and since the late 20th century also in writing.

Declension

Declension of Spatz [masculine, mixed // weak]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Spatz	die	Spatzen
genitive	eines	des	Spatzes, Spatzen	der	Spatzen
dative	einem	dem	Spatz, Spatze1, Spatzen	den	Spatzen
accusative	einen	den	Spatz, Spatzen	die	Spatzen

¹Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms

• Feldspatz
• mit Kanonen auf Spatzen schießen

Related terms

• Spätzle

Descendants

• → Luxembourgish: Spatz

Etymology 2

From Etymology 1, but with a different plural on the model of the rhyming word Schatz.

Noun

Spatz m (strong, genitive Spatzes, plural Spätze)

1. an affectionate nickname, mostly used towards children, more seldom towards lovers, almost never with friends

   Hallo, mein Spatz! ― Hello, sweetie!

   Hallo, meine Spätze! ― Hello, my darlings!

Declension

Declension of Spatz [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Spatz	die	Spätze
genitive	eines	des	Spatzes	der	Spätze
dative	einem	dem	Spatz, Spatze1	den	Spätzen
accusative	einen	den	Spatz	die	Spätze

¹Now rare, see notes.

Further reading

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

Luxembourgish

e Spatz

Etymology

Form German Spatz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃpɑts/

  Rhymes: -ɑts

  Homophone: spatz

Noun

Spatz m (plural Spatzen)

1. sparrow

Synonyms

• Mësch (the originally Luxembourgish word)