noun
Very common
German
JUR-muhn
German (noun) means a native or citizen of Germany. Example: “Many Germans travel to the coast for their summer holidays.”
noun
1
A native or citizen of Germany.
"Many Germans travel to the coast for their summer holidays."
2
The West Germanic language spoken mainly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
"She studied German for three years before moving to Berlin."
adj
1
Relating to Germany, its people, culture, or language.
"They ordered German beer and sausages at the festival."
2
Sharing both parents, or being a first cousin through a full sibling of one's parent (a formal, somewhat old-fashioned usage, as in "cousin-german").
"They are cousins-german, sharing the same grandparents."
How to use German
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to Germany or its language — or, in an older formal sense, "closely related by blood."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
German language
German efficiency
cousin-german
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Word forms
- Plural
- Germans
- Comparative
- more German
- Superlative
- most German, Germanest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Many _____ travel to the coast for their summer holidays.
Etymology
From Latin Germanus, the Roman name for the peoples living east of the Rhine — not historically connected to the unrelated adjective "german" meaning "closely related," which comes through a different route from the same Latin root.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for German
merman
Herman
Berman
Sherman
superman
peterman
alderman
waterman
Ackerman
Huberman
elderman
fisherman
See all rhymes for German →
Frequently asked questions
What does “German” mean?
The word “German” means a native or citizen of Germany. In plain terms, relating to Germany or its language — or, in an older formal sense, "closely related by blood.".
How do you pronounce “German”?
“German” is pronounced JUR-muhn (/ˈd͡ʒɝ.mən/ in IPA).
How do you use “German” in a sentence?
Here is “German” used in a sentence: “Many Germans travel to the coast for their summer holidays.”
What is another word for “German”?
Words with a similar meaning to “German” include Teutonic and Germanic.
What part of speech is “German”?
Depending on how it is used, “German” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “German” come from?
The word “German” comes from Latin.
Is “German” a common word?
“German” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “German” have?
“German” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a native or citizen of Germany.
What is the difference between 'German' and 'germane'?
They sound similar but are unrelated. 'German' refers to a person from Germany, or the country's language and culture, and is always capitalised. 'Germane' is an adjective meaning relevant or closely connected to the matter at hand, as in 'a germane point'. Only the nationality takes a capital letter.
Does 'German' mean the language or the person?
It can mean both. As a noun, 'German' most often refers to a person who is a native or citizen of Germany, but it also names the German language, spoken in Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland. As an adjective it describes anything relating to Germany or its people.
What is the difference between 'German' and 'Germanic'?
'German' relates specifically to the modern country of Germany and its people. 'Germanic' is broader, describing a language family and ancient peoples that include English, Dutch, and the Scandinavian tongues as well as German. So all Germans are Germanic in a linguistic sense, but not everything Germanic is German.
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