Fussel

German

Etymology

From Middle High German visel m or f. The modern form with -u- is a Central German variant. Further origin unknown. Probably related to German Faser. Compare in particular Dutch vezel.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈfʊsəl/, [ˈfʊsəl], [ˈfʊsl̩] (prescriptive standard)
  • IPA(key): /ˈfʊzəl/, [ˈfʊzəl], [ˈfʊzl̩] (common variant; not restricted to accents with general voicing of /s/)
  • Audio(file)

Noun

Fussel m or (rare) n (mixed or strong, genitive Fussels, plural Fusseln or Fussel) or
Fussel f (genitive Fussel, plural Fusseln)

  1. fluff, lint of fabric, wool, etc.
    Synonym: Fluse

Usage notes
  • Some dictionaries give the word as exclusively or chiefly feminine, but the masculine gender seems now predominant. The neuter is rare.
  • Fussel is one of a small number of German nouns which can or historically could have all three genders; see the appendix.

Declension
Declension of Fussel [masculine // neuter (rare), mixed // strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der, das Fussel die Fusseln, Fussel
genitive eines des Fussels der Fusseln, Fussel
dative einem dem Fussel den Fusseln
accusative einen, ein den, das Fussel die Fusseln, Fussel
Declension of Fussel [feminine]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative eine die Fussel die Fusseln
genitive einer der Fussel der Fusseln
dative einer der Fussel den Fusseln
accusative eine die Fussel die Fusseln

Derived terms
  • fusselig
  • fusseln

Further reading
  • “Fussel” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • “Fussel” in Duden online
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