gehl

See also: Gehl

German

Etymology

See the lemma gelb. Compare also the alternation between fahl and falb, in which the b-less form has become the normal one.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɡeːl/
  • Homophone: Gel

Adjective

gehl (comparative gehler, superlative am gehlsten)

  1. (archaic) Alternative form of gelb: yellow
    • 1954, Heinrich Böll, Haus ohne Hüter:
      Gut und schön und warm auch klang der Spruch »Safran macht den Kuchen gehl«.

Usage notes

  • The form remains familiar to the general public chiefly from the following famous nursery song in which it is maintained for rhyme:
Backe, backe Kuchen!Bake, bake cake!
Der Bäcker hat gerufen.The baker has called.
Wer will schönen Kuchen backen,Whoever wants to bake good cake,
Der muss haben sieben Sachen:He must have seven things:
Eier und Schmalz,Eggs and lard,
Butter und Salz,Butter and salt,
Zucker und Mehl,Sugar and flour,
Safran macht den Kuchen gehl.Saffron makes the cake yellow.

Declension

Further reading

  • gehl in Duden online

Pennsylvania German

Etymology

Compare German gelb, Dutch geel, English yellow.

Adjective

gehl

  1. yellow

Derived terms

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