Verner alternation

noun

The alternation between consonants in different forms of a word stem in the Germanic languages, as a result of Verner's law.

Meanings

nounVerner alternation (countable and uncountable, plural Verner alternations)

plural Verner alternations

  1. Indo European studiescountableuncountableThe alternation between consonants in different forms of a word stem in the Germanic languages, as a result of Verner's law.

    Synonyms: grammatical alternation, grammatischer Wechsel

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe alternation between consonants in different forms of a word stem in the Germanic languages, as a result of Verner's law.

Origin

From Verner's law, itself named after 19th century Danish linguist Karl Verner.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch grammatische wisseling
  • grammatische wisselingAlternation between consonants in the Germanic languages
German grammatischer Wechsel
  • grammatischer WechselAlternation between consonants in the Germanic languages
Polish prawo Vernera
  • prawo VerneraAlternation between consonants in the Germanic languages
Cite this entry
APA

Verner alternation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Verner%20alternation

MLA

“Verner alternation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Verner%20alternation. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Verner alternation,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Verner%20alternation.

Source: Verner alternation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.