German definition

jûrmən
The definition of German is relating to the culture of Germany.

An example of German used as an adjective is German food, such as weiner schnitzel.

adjective
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Any of the West Germanic languages and dialects spoken or originating in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, especially standard High German.
noun
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An intricate dance for many couples.
noun
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Of or relating to the German language.
adjective
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Closely related: now chiefly in compounds, meaning.
  • Having the same parents.
    A brother-german.
  • Having the same grandparents on either the father's side or the mother's.
    A cousin-german is a first cousin.
adjective
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Shakespeare.

Wert thou a leopard, thou wert german to the lion.

adjective
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Having the same parents or the same grandparents on either the mother's or the father's side. Often used in combination.

A cousin-german; a brother-german.

adjective
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The definition of a German is a person from Germany, a person who has ancestors from Germany, or any of the West Germanic languages.

An example of a German is Heidi Klum.

An example of German is standard High German.

noun
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A party for dancing at which this dance is featured.
noun
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Of, relating to, or characteristic of Germany or its people.
adjective
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A native or inhabitant of Germany.
noun
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A person of German ancestry.
noun
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A person born or living in Germany.
noun
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The West Germanic language spoken chiefly in Germany, Austria, and certain parts of Switzerland, technically called New High German.
noun
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A complicated dance for many couples in which partners are changed often.
noun
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A party at which the german is danced.
noun
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Of Germany or its people, language, or culture.
adjective
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1602, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, V.2.

The phrase would bee more Germaine.

adjective
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(obsolete) A near relative.
noun
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An elaborate round dance, often with a waltz movement.
noun
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A social party at which the german is danced.
noun
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A native or inhabitant of Germany; a person of German citizenship or nationality.
noun
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A member of the Germanic ethnic group which is the most populous ethnic group in Germany; a person of German descent.
noun
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A member of a Germanic tribe.

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

noun
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An Indo-European (Indo-Germanic) language, primarily spoken in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, South Tyrol, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and a small part of Belgium.

German has three genders: masculine, feminine and neuter.

pronoun
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Of or relating to the nation of Germany.
adjective
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Of or relating to the natives or inhabitants of Germany; to people of German descent.

Her German husband has blond hair.

adjective
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Of, in or relating to the German language.

We take German classes twice a week.

Because the instructions were German, Yves couldn't read them.

adjective
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
german
Plural:
germans

Origin of german

  • Middle English germain from Old French from Latin germānus from germen offshoot genə- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English from Latin Germānus

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Short for German cotillion

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Not related to the Latin adjective germānus (whence the English words german and germane, through Old French). Attested since at least 1520. Replaced the older terms Almain and Dutch in English.

    From Wiktionary

  • From Latin Germanus, Germani (“the peoples of Germania”), as distinct from Gauls (in the writings of Caesar and Tacitus), and of uncertain ultimate origin (possibly Celtic/Gaulish).

    From Wiktionary

  • From Old French germain, from Latin germānus. See also germane, a formal variant which has survived in specific senses. Not related to the proper noun German.

    From Wiktionary

  • From German (“of Germany”).

    From Wiktionary

German Sentence Examples

  • The German doctor went up to Lorrain.

  • I am studying French and German and Latin and Greek.

  • I have read "Le Medecin Malgre Lui," a very good French comedy by Moliere, with pleasure; and they say I speak French pretty well now, and German also.

  • The two German women sharing her room ceased talking when she entered and looked her over before one said in halting English, "You're American."

  • The subjects I offered were elementary and advanced German, French, Latin, English, and Greek and Roman History.

More sentences

Related articles

Also Mentioned In

Words near german in the Dictionary