fonkelen

Meaning

to twinkle, sparkle

Concepts

twinkle

sparkle

glitter

scintillate

glisten

spark

twink

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈfɔŋkələ(n)/

Etymology

Later 18th century, equivalent to vonken (“to spark”) + -elen (iterative suffix). A singularly attested Middle Dutch voncklen (15th c.) seems to have had no continuation. The comparatively late Dutch attestations (some of which in German-influenced texts) make a calque of German funkeln likely. The f- may also be due to the same reason, although this is not certain as the v-form is the older one in Dutch.

Sentences

De lucht is helder ; de sterren fonkelen .

The sky is clear; the stars twinkle.