Ähre

Meaning

1. the ear (of corn)
2. the head, ear (of grass seed)
3. the spike (of a flower)

Gender

♀️ Feminine

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɛːrə/

Etymology

From Middle High German eher, äher n, from Old High German ehir, ahir, ahar n, from Proto-Germanic *ahaz n. The form with Ä- is Upper German, where -h- led to an open vowel through secondary (rather than primary) umlaut. The feminine form, in turn, is a chiefly Central German backformation from plural use.
Cognate with Dutch aar, West Frisian ier, English ear. Ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- (“sharp, pointed”), whence also Ecke. Related with Latin aciēs, acus, Ancient Greek ἄκρος (ákros), Russian острый (ostryj).