flattern
German
Etymology
Early New High German flatern, from Middle High German vladeren, probably related to Falter (“moth”). Compare Dutch fladderen, Lithuanian plazdė́ti (“to flutter, beat the wings vigorously”), Latvian pledināt (“to move the wings”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈflatɐn/
Audio: (file) - Hyphenation: flat‧tern
Verb
flattern (weak, third-person singular present flattert, past tense flatterte, past participle geflattert, auxiliary haben)
- (intransitive) to flutter
- Die Fahnen flattern im Wind.
- The flags flutter in the wind.
- Der Vogel geriet in Panik und flatterte mit den Flügeln.
- The bird started panicking and flapped its wings.
Conjugation
Conjugation of flattern (weak, auxiliary haben)
infinitive | flattern | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
present participle | flatternd | ||||
past participle | geflattert | ||||
auxiliary | haben | ||||
indicative | subjunctive | ||||
singular | plural | singular | plural | ||
present | ich flattre ich flattere ich flatter |
wir flattern | i | ich flattere ich flattre |
wir flattern |
du flatterst | ihr flattert | du flatterest du flattrest |
ihr flatteret ihr flattret | ||
er flattert | sie flattern | er flattere er flattre |
sie flattern | ||
preterite | ich flatterte | wir flatterten | ii | ich flatterte1 | wir flatterten1 |
du flattertest | ihr flattertet | du flattertest1 | ihr flattertet1 | ||
er flatterte | sie flatterten | er flatterte1 | sie flatterten1 | ||
imperative | flattre (du) flatter (du) flattere (du) |
flattert (ihr) |
1Rare except in very formal contexts; alternative in würde normally preferred.
Composed forms of flattern (weak, auxiliary haben)
Related terms
- Flattern
- flatternd
- Flattermann
- wegflattern