Vaterunser

Meaning

1. (neuter, strong) Lord's Prayer; Our Father; paternoster (prayer that Jesus taught his disciples)
2. (dated, neuter, strong) an approximate measure of time: as long as it takes to say the Our Father at an intermediate tempo, i.e. about half a minute

Concepts

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father

Lord's Prayer

paternoster

our father

Synonyms

Gebet des Herrn

Unser Vater

Aufzug

Pater noster

Herrengebet

Unservater

Paternoster

Translations

Notre Père

Onzevader

Padrenuestro

Padre Nostro

Κυριακή προσευχή

Pater noster

Pater noster

parenostre

Padre nuestro

padrenuestro

Parenostre

Pai Nosso

oratio dominica

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌfaːtɐˈ(ʔ)ʊnzɐ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle High German: vatir unsir

Inherited from Old High German: fater unser

In summary

Univerbation of the prayer’s first two words Vater unser: From Middle High German vatir unsir etc., from Old High German fater unser, translation of Latin Pater noster, itself translated from Ancient Greek πάτερ ἡμῶν (páter hēmôn). The postposition of the possessive was still grammatical in Old High German and early Middle High German, but has survived to this day under continuous backing of the Latin. The natural position Unser Vater is attested since the 16th century, but is presently less common.