pfennig

American  

[fen-ig, pfen-ikh] / ˈfɛn ɪg, ˈpfɛn ɪx /

noun

plural

pfennigs, pfennige

1. a copper-coated iron coin and monetary unit of Germany until the euro was adopted, one 100th of a Deutsche mark.

2. (formerly) a minor coin and monetary unit of East Germany, one 100th of an ostmark.

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pfennig British  

/ ˈfɛnɪɡ, ˈpfɛnɪç /

noun

1. a former German monetary unit worth one hundredth of a Deutschmark

2. (formerly) a monetary unit worth one hundredth of an East German ostmark

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Etymology

Origin of pfennig

First recorded in 1540–50; from German: penny

Example Sentences

Jürgen Klopp should therefore decide to make do, and spend every precious pfennig of his summer pot on a top-drawer replacement for the woefully erratic Dejan Lovren instead.

From The Guardian • Apr. 28, 2017

Maybe the pfennig will drop and he’ll resort to putting his German center half up front in the waning minutes.

From New York Times • May 14, 2011

The 300-h.p. engine can accelerate the behemoth up to 63 m.p.h. in 9.7 seconds, faster than some sports cars, and the four-wheel disk brakes can stop it on a pfennig.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Fatherland paid all the passage money, every pfennig.

From Time Magazine Archive

For some parents, it was a financial hardship to purchase the required uniform and pay ten pfennig, or pennies, as monthly dues.

From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti