Halunke

German

Etymology

In literary use since ca. 1700. From Silesian East Central German Holomken (“servant”, 15th c.), from Old Czech holomek. Compare modern Czech holomek (“scoundrel”). The also attested sense “heathland warden, messenger” suggests merger with older Upper Sorbian *holank (attested as a name), diminutive of holan (“heathland dweller”), derived from hola (“heath”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /haˈlʊŋkə/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Ha‧lun‧ke

Noun

Halunke m (weak, genitive Halunken, plural Halunken)

1. scoundrel, thug

   Synonyms: Schuft, Schurke, Strolch

2. (more mildly) rascal, scalawag

   Synonyms: Schlingel, Schlitzohr, Schlawiner

Declension

Declension of Halunke [masculine, weak]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Halunke	die	Halunken
genitive	eines	des	Halunken	der	Halunken
dative	einem	dem	Halunken	den	Halunken
accusative	einen	den	Halunken	die	Halunken

Further reading

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