Kanaille

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German

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Borrowed from French canaille.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /kaˈnaljə/
    • Audio:(file)
  • IPA(key): /kaˈnaɪ̯ə/ (Austria)

Noun

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Kanaille f (genitive Kanaille, plural Kanaillen)

  1. (formerly derogatory, now dated and usually humorous) scoundrel, rascal, (also) someone extravagant, eccentric
    Na, du alte Kanaille!Well, well, you rascal
    Der Typ ist echt so’ne Kanaille...That guy is positively eccentric...
  2. (archaic, collective) mob, vermin, canaille
    • 1909 [1901], Thomas Mann, Buddenbrooks [] [1], Berlin: Deutsche Buch-Gemeinschaft, →OCLC, page 182:
      Aber er strafte sich selber Lügen, indem er plötzlich hervorzischte: »Parbleu, Jean! man müßte diesen infamen Schmierfinken den Respekt mit Pulver und Blei in den Leib knallen … Das Pack …! Die Canaille …!«
      But he gave the lie to himself by suddenly hissing out: "Parbleu, Jean! one would have to pound respect with powder and lead in these infamous greases ... The pack ...! The canaille ...!"

Declension

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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