Etymology

From Middle Low German and Middle Dutch sūden. The form is already attested in Middle High German sūden, which replaces native Middle High German sunden from Old High German sundan. However, the modern form with a preserved monophthong must be directly from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch. The latter's influence is seen in the umlaut (compare the Middle Dutch pronunciation of -ū- [yː]). All these forms are from Proto-Germanic *sunþanē, an adverb meaning “from the south”. The original Proto-Germanic noun *sunþrą, whence English south and German Süd, has always been restricted chiefly to compounds in continental West Germanic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈzyːdən/