Sprungwort

Sprungwort is a term encountered in German-language linguistic and literary discussions. Literally, it combines sprung meaning "jump" and wort meaning "word." There is no universally accepted definition in English-language scholarship, and the term is used with varying senses by different authors.

In discourse analysis, Sprungwort is sometimes used to describe a word that marks a transition or "jump" in thought, functioning as a discourse marker that shifts topic, stance, or argument within a sentence or passage.

In folklore or cross-cultural linguistics, Sprungwort may refer to a proverb-like element that is borrowed or transplanted across languages or contexts, moving from one cultural setting to another.

Because of divergent uses, the term is contested and often discouraged in formal writing; many researchers prefer standard terms such as discourse marker or bridging phrase, or reserve Sprichwort (proverb) for related concepts to avoid confusion.

Example: A sentence like "Er war müde; allerdings zeigte er neue Entschlossenheit" uses "allerdings" as a pivot word, which some analysts might characterize as a Sprungwort.