noun
die Meckerziege, -n
whiner
Definition & meaning
The word Meckerziege is a colloquial German term used to describe a person who complains, grumbles, or nags excessively.
- Complaining person: It refers to someone who is constantly dissatisfied, finds fault with everything, or makes whining remarks.
- Literal meaning: Literally translated, it means "bleating goat." It is a pejorative term used to mock someone's vocal, often high-pitched or annoying, habit of complaining.
Grammar & Word origin
The word is a feminine noun (die Meckerziege, plural: die Meckerziegen). It is a compound word formed by two parts:
- Meckern: A verb meaning to bleat (like a goat) or, in a figurative sense, to grumble, nag, or complain.
- Ziege: A noun meaning goat.
The word combines the sound associated with a goat with the human habit of voicing constant dissatisfaction. It is almost exclusively used to describe women or girls in a derogatory way.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- Nörgler (a generic term for a constant grumbler)
- Jammerlappen (someone who whines or complains a lot)
- Querulant (someone who habitually raises complaints or starts disputes)
- Meckerpott (another colloquial term for a complainer)
Antonyms:
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Examples
Er nennt seinen Kollegen manchmal eine Meckerziege.noun
He sometimes calls his colleague a whiner.
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