Ihmchen

German

Etymology

By surface analysis, ihm (“him”, dative pronoun) +‎ -chen, but this is hardly the ultimate origin (though it may have influenced usage). Probably from a diminutive of Ohm (“uncle”), that is Öhmchen, widely pronounced Ehmchen in dialects, and in ones with raising Ühmchen, Ihmchen (the last e.g. Moselle Franconian). The word was (re-)popularised to some degree by the lead character of the TV series Stromberg (German adaptation of The Office).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈiːmçən/

Noun

Ihmchen n (strong, genitive Ihmchens, plural Ihmchen)

1. (colloquial, regional) A humorous word for a man, typically used pronominally, either as a vocative (for du) or when speaking about someone (for er).