der Muff
musty smell
An unpleasant, stale, or moldy smell. The word is used colloquially.
EXAMPLE
Aus dem feuchten Keller schlug uns ein unangenehmer Muff entgegen.
An unpleasant musty smell came at us from the damp cellar.
der Muff
muff
der Muff, die Muffe
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Meanings
der Muff
muff
A tube-shaped garment made of fur or another warm material, into which you put both hands to keep them warm.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem alten Winterfoto trägt meine Großmutter einen Muff, in dem sie beide Hände wärmt.
In the old winter photo, my grandmother is wearing a muff in which she is warming both hands.
der Muff
stifling atmosphere
An intellectual or social atmosphere perceived as outdated, narrow-minded, and oppressive. This figurative use is derogatory.
EXAMPLE
Die jungen Künstler wollten den Muff der Nachkriegszeit aus dem Theater vertreiben.
The young artists wanted to drive the stifling atmosphere of the postwar era out of the theater.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Muff, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance (der)
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Muffe |
| genitive | des Muffs |
The four cases (der)
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Muff | die Muffe |
| accusative | den Muff | die Muffe |
| dative | dem Muff | den Muffen |
| genitive | des Muffs des Muffes | der Muffe |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
At a glance (der)
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| genitive | des Muffs |
The four cases (der)
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Muff | – |
| accusative | den Muff | – |
| dative | dem Muff | – |
| genitive | des Muffs des Muffes | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Typical collocations
Typical expressions include „Muff hängt in der Luft“ (there is a musty smell in the air) and „den Muff vertreiben“ (to get rid of the musty smell). These expressions are especially suitable when airing out or cleaning rooms that have been closed up for a long time.
EXAMPLE
Durch gründliches Lüften konnten wir den Muff aus dem Gästezimmer vertreiben.
By airing out the guest room thoroughly, we were able to get rid of the musty smell.
Movement and position
When putting your hands inside it, use „in den Muff“ with the accusative. When your hands are already inside it, use „im Muff“ with the dative.
EXAMPLE
Vor dem Spaziergang steckte sie die Hände in den Muff.
Before the walk, she put her hands into the muff.
Während der Kutschfahrt hielt sie ihre Hände im Muff warm.
During the carriage ride, she kept her hands warm in the muff.
Famous protest slogan
The famous protest slogan „Unter den Talaren – Muff von 1000 Jahren“ (Beneath the gowns, the mustiness of 1,000 years) comes from the student movement of 1967. It criticized the old power structures at universities and their handling of the Nazi past; texts about social change still allude to this slogan today.
EXAMPLE
Viele Studierende wollten den Muff der alten Universitätsstrukturen überwinden.
Many students wanted to overcome the mustiness of the old university structures.
In real life
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