Zunft

See also: zunft

German

Etymology

From Middle High German zunft, Old High German zumft, from Proto-Germanic *tumþiz (“guild”). Equivalent to an abstract verbal noun of ziemen, akin to Kunft from kommen.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /t͡sʊnft/
  • Audio (Germany (Berlin)):(file)

Noun

Zunft f (genitive Zunft, plural Zünfte)

  1. (historical) guild, especially of craftsmen
  2. (chiefly in compounds) all of those who practice some craft or (humorous) any profession

Usage notes

  • Historically, the predominant word for “guild” was Gilde in Low German, Innung in Central German, and Zunft in Upper German.
  • In contemporary standard German, the predominant use is Gilde for historic merchant guilds, Zunft for historic craftsmen guilds, and Innung for modern interest groups of craftspeople.

Declension

Declension of Zunft [feminine]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative eine die Zunft die Zünfte
genitive einer der Zunft der Zünfte
dative einer der Zunft den Zünften
accusative eine die Zunft die Zünfte

Derived terms

See also

Further reading

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