Pfennig
/ˈpfɛnɪç/noun
A former German coin worth one hundredth of a mark; now used in historical contexts and in some fixed expressions.
Did you know?Pfennig is ultimately related to English penny, and both descend from a very old Germanic word for a small coin, showing how everyday money can preserve ancient trade networks.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*panningaz
“a small coin or money piece”
Old High German
OHG
pfanting
“a penny, small coin”
Middle High German
MHG
pfenninc
“a penny; a small coin”
Early New High German
German
pfennig
“a small coin, especially a pfennig”
Modern English
English
penny
“a small-denomination coin”