german

CEFRA1

/ˈd͡ʒɜː.mən/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Relating to Germany, its people, or its language.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    A member of a Germanic tribe.

Examples

  • A German firm launched a takeover bid for the company.

  • You don't know German, do you?

At a glance

Sits at A1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
1

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. A person of a West Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe, comprising the ethnic majority of Germany.

  2. Having the same mother and father; a full (brother or sister).

  3. Being born to one’s blood aunt or uncle, a first (cousin).

More examples

In context

  • German has three genders: masculine, feminine and neuter.

  • Rome was sacked by Germans and the Western Roman Empire collapsed.

  • I don't understand German.

Synonyms

Quick test

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Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Latin Germānus, Germānī (“the peoples of Germānia”), as distinct from Gauls (in the writings of Caesar and Tacitus), and of uncertain ultimate origin (possibly Celtic/Gaulish). Not related to german (“closely related”) or germane (from the Latin adjective germānus, through Old French). Attested since at least 1520. Replaced the older terms Almain and Dutch (from Proto-Germanic *þiudiskaz) in English. Besides cognates of German, Almain, and Dutch, two other categories of words for the Germans in other languages are cognates of Saxon and descendants of Proto-Slavic *němьcь; see those entries for more. The surname is generally from the noun, though sometimes confused with Herman, Hermann...