Schnupperkurs

German

Etymology

schnuppern +‎ Kurs. Coined in the 1980s, likening the idea of people trying out an activity to the way an animal might warily sniff something offered to them in an attempt to identify it.

Pronunciation

  • Audio (Germany (Berlin)):(file)

Noun

Schnupperkurs m (strong, genitive Schnupperkurses, plural Schnupperkurse)

  1. trial course, taster course (brief, basic and often freely offered introduction to a course or activity, intended to get people interested in more in-depth offers)
    eintägiger Schnupperkurs ― one-day trial class
    • 1990 September 13, Johann Borch, “High-Tech-Angebote auch für den Handwerker”, in Berliner Zeitung:
      Wer will, kann sich in „Schnupperkursen“ mit den ausgestellten Computersystemen vertraut machen.
      Those willing can familiarize themselves with the computer systems on display by taking part in trial courses.

Declension

Declension of Schnupperkurs [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Schnupperkurs die Schnupperkurse
genitive eines des Schnupperkurses der Schnupperkurse
dative einem dem Schnupperkurs, Schnupperkurse1 den Schnupperkursen
accusative einen den Schnupperkurs die Schnupperkurse

1Now rare, see notes.

Further reading

  • “Schnupperkurs” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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