jäh

Meaning

abrupt, sudden
steep, sheer
precipitous, hasty

Frequency

Pronounced as (IPA)

/jɛː/

Etymology

From Middle High German gǣhe, gāch, gā (“quick”), from Old High German gāhi (“sudden, quick, rash”), from Proto-Germanic *ganhuz, *ganhwuz (“sudden”). The modern onset j- is from a Central German dialect. Other dialects have brought forward forms such as gäh, gäch or gach (obsolete in standard usage), compare Bavarian gach. Cognate with Dutch gauw (“soon”). More at gay.