zänke

Central Franconian

Etymology

From Middle High German zenken, variant of zanken, whence German zanken. Further origin unknown.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtsɛŋkə/

Verb

zänke (third-person singular present zänk or zänkt, past participle jezänk or gezänkt)

1. (transitive) to pick on, bother, pester

   No hür ens op, emmer de Mädcher ze zänke!

   Now stop always picking on the girls!

2. (reflexive) to argue, fight, quarrel

   Die zwei senn sich der janzen Daach am zänke.

   The two of them are quarrelling all day long.

   • 1974, “Pänz Pänz Pänz”‎^[1]performed by Bläck Fööss:

     Spille mer em Huus odder och em Keller – et es janz ejal, wie mer et mäht.
     Ob mer sich no zänk odder leis deit schwaade, et kütt dann janz bestemmp einer, dä sät:
     Pänz, Pänz, wo mer jeiht un steiht, nur Pänz, Pänz, Pänz!

     Whether we play in the house or in the basement – it doesn’t matter what you do.
     Whether we quarrel or just talk quietly, someone will surely come and say:
     Children, children, wherever you stand and go, nothing but children, children, children!