Spuk

See also: spuk

German

Etymology

17th century, from Middle Low German spōk, from Old Saxon *spōk, from Proto-Germanic *spōk. Cognate with Dutch spook, whence English spook.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃpuːk/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Spuk m (strong, genitive Spukes or Spuks, plural Spuke)

1. (usually uncountable) collective word for apparitions or actions of ghosts, haunting, supernatural (usually frightening) occurrences

   Wenn es kein Spuk war, muss es eine natürliche Erklärung geben.

   If it wasn't ghosts, there must be a natural explanation for it.

2. (uncountable, informal) any set of unusual occurrences, often stressful, but not necessarily negative

   Der ganze Spuk mit der Hochzeit hat bisher eigentlich ganz gut geklappt.

   All those dealings with the wedding have actually worked out pretty well up until now.

   Mein Sohn hatte gestern einen Freund zur Übernachtung da und die beiden haben ganz schön Spuk gemacht.

   My son had a friend staying over last night and the two were a bit boisterous.

3. (countable, obsolete) a ghost, spectre

   Synonyms: Gespenst, Geist

Declension

Declension of Spuk [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Spuk	die	Spuke
genitive	eines	des	Spukes, Spuks	der	Spuke
dative	einem	dem	Spuk, Spuke1	den	Spuken
accusative	einen	den	Spuk	die	Spuke

¹Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms

• spuken
• spukhaft

Related terms

• Spökenkieker
• Spökes

Further reading

• “Spuk” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Spuk” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
• “Spuk” in Duden online