Westfalen

From Middle Dutch westvalen.

• IPA^(key): /ˌʋɛstˈfaː.lə(n)/
• Hyphenation: West‧fa‧len
• Rhymes: -aːlən

Westfalen n

1. Westphalia (a region in northwestern Germany)

• Westfaals
• Westfaler

• Westphalen

The first component of the name is from Proto-Germanic *westrą (“west”); the second component is less clear but maybe comes from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂- (“flat, field”), the same root as Feld.

The name Westfalai m pl was first mentioned in the Franconian Imperial Annals of 775 as the name of a subtribe of the Saxons (Saxones m pl). (Two other Saxon subtribes mentioned in the same source were Angrarii m pl and Austreleudi Saxones.)

In the 10th century, there was also the placename pagus Westfalon m (“district/region Westfalon”).

• IPA^(key): /vɛstˈfaːlən/

Westfalen n (proper noun, genitive Westfalens or (optionally with an article) Westfalen)

1. Westphalia (a region in northwestern Germany)

• Münsterland
• Paderborn
• Sauerland

Inflected forms.

Westfalen m

1. inflection of Westfale:
   1. accusative/genitive/dative singular
   2. plural

• Westfaolen (Münsterländisch)

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

• Germany: IPA^(key): /vɛs(t)ˈfɔːln̩~vɛs(t)ˈfɒːln̩~vɛs(t)ˈfoːln̩/
• Netherlands: IPA^(key): /ʋɛs(t)ˈfaːln̩~ʋɛs(t)ˈfɔːln̩/

Westfalen

1. Westphalia (a region in northwestern Germany)

• westfäälsch