die Feige
Translation
fig, coward
Examples
Im Sommer esse ich gerne frische Feigen.
In summer, I like to eat fresh figs.
Er wurde als Feige beschimpft.
He was insulted as a coward.
Grammar Patterns
((et4)) as a fruit. Ich esse eine Feige.
((j-n)) as a coward. Er ist eine Feige.
Similar Words
Synonyms: (fruit) Frucht; (person) Feigling, Angsthase. Antonyms: (person) Held (hero).
Etymology
The fruit 'fig' is from Old High German 'fīga', ultimately from Latin 'fīcus'. The word 'coward' comes from a separate root, Middle High German 'veige' (fated to die), which later came to mean 'fearful'.
Memory Tips
Picture a coward ('Feige') taking cover behind a fig tree ('Feige'). This connects the two different meanings in one image.