noun

dirndl

DURN-dul

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Dirndl (noun) means a traditional Alpine woman's dress with a tight bodice and a full skirt. Example: “She wore a blue dirndl to the festival in Munich.”

noun

A traditional Alpine woman's dress with a tight bodice and a full skirt.

"She wore a blue dirndl to the festival in Munich."

"The shop sells dirndls in a range of colors and sizes."

"Her costume was a dirndl with a white blouse and an apron."

A full skirt with a tight waistband, styled like the skirt of a traditional Alpine dress.

"She paired a gathered dirndl skirt with a plain sweater."

"The dirndl skirt flared out when she spun around."

"He found a vintage dirndl skirt at the thrift store."

Examples of dirndl in a sentence →

How to use dirndl

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA traditional Alpine dress with a fitted top and a full skirt.

When to use it

The word is neutral and is used in everyday speech and writing about clothing and culture.

Memory tip

Pronounce both the n and the d in the middle: DURN-dul, not DUR-ul.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

wear a dirndl dirndl skirt traditional dirndl dirndl dress

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “dirndl” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She wore a blue _____ to the festival in Munich.

Etymology

English borrowed the word from German Dirndl, a diminutive of Dirne, meaning girl in Austria and Bavaria. Dirne came from Middle High German dierne, which meant girl or servant.

Origin: German

Frequently asked questions

What is a dirndl?

A dirndl is a traditional Alpine woman's dress with a tight bodice and a full skirt.

What does dirndl mean in German?

Dirndl is a diminutive of Dirne, a word for girl used in Austria and Bavaria.

How do you pronounce dirndl?

In American English it is pronounced DURN-dul, with the stress on the first syllable.

What is the meaning of dirndl?

"dirndl" (noun) means a traditional Alpine woman's dress with a tight bodice and a full skirt.