Central Franconian

Alternative forms

• Dooch (alternative spelling)
• Duch, Duuch (most dialects of Moselle Franconian)

Noun

Doch n ‎(plural Döcher, diminutive Döchelche)

1. (chiefly Ripuarian) cloth; paper towel

   Ühr Ideale hatt er diskret verschlamp wie e jebruch Tempo-Doch.

   You discreetly chucked away your ideals like a used tissue. (Line from the BAP song “Zehnter Juni”)

Dutch

Conjunction

doch

1. yet, but, still, on the contrary, no, yes
2. but rather

German

Etymology

From Middle High German doch, from Old High German doh, from Proto-Germanic *þauh. Cognate to Old English þēah (English though).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dɔx/ (standard)
• IPA^(key): /dɔ/, /do/ (chiefly southern Germany and Austria; also in northern Germany in some positions, e.g. before nicht)

Conjunction

doch

1. though; yet; but; however; nevertheless
2. for all that; after all; but

Adverb

doch

1. after all; yet; however; nevertheless
   • 1918, Elisabeth von Heyking, Die Orgelpfeifen, in: Zwei Erzählungen, Phillipp Reclam jun. Verlag, page 35:

     Auf dem Bahnhof dann, in dem sich senkenden Nebel, ein Gewühl von Pferden und grauen Gestalten, das zuerst unentwirrbar schien und sich dann doch rasch ordnete.

     On the station then, in the sinking fog, a crowd of horses and gray characters that initially looked inextricable, but then put itself in order swiftly after all.

2. really; just
3. (in response to a negative question or statement) yes; surely; really; on the contrary

   Das darfst du nicht sagen. — Doch, doch! —— “You can’t say that. — Yes, I can!”

   Du wirst nicht kommen? — Doch! —— “You won't come? — Oh, yes, I will!”

4. indicates proposal; why don't you/we

   Komm doch mal mit.

Usage notes

• (really, just): As an emphatic particle, doch often stresses a contrast or a certainty. It is used more frequently in German than its nearest English equivalents and is often best translated into English by rephrasing the surrounding sentence.