Plage

From early Middle High German plāge, from Latin plāga (“blow, wound”). The word was originally chiefly Central German, therefore sometimes secondarily adapted to the Upper German consonantism as (later) Middle High German pflāge, which form did not last, however. More at plague.

• IPA^(key): /ˈplaːɡə/

• Audio:

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• Rhymes: -aːɡə

Plage f (genitive Plage, plural Plagen)

1. plague (affliction or hardship, particularly when seen as a divine punishment)

   Sie ertrug alle Plagen des Krieges mit großer Tapferkeit.

   She endured all hardships of the war with great bravery.

   Manche Menschen erachten Aids als Plage für die Unzüchtigen.

   Some people consider AIDS to be a plague for the lewd.

2. plague; epidemic

   Synonyms: Seuche, Epidemie

   In Teilen des Landes ist eine Mückenplage ausgebrochen.

   A mosquito plague has broken out in parts of the country.

3. (informal) nuisance; annoyance; something annoying

   Synonym: Zumutung

   Diese neuen Glühbirnen sind echt ’ne Plage.

   These new light bulbs are really annoying.

• German Plage does not refer specifically to the bubonic plague, for which use Pest.

• plagen
• Plackerei

• “Plage” in Duden online

From French plage.

• IPA^(key): /plaːʃ/

Plage f (plural Plagen)

1. beach