adj Uncommon

Germanic

jur-MAN-ihk

Germanic (adj) means relating to the Germanic peoples, such as Germans, Scandinavians, or Anglo-Saxons, or to their family of languages. Example: “English, German, and Swedish are all Germanic languages.”

adj

Relating to the Germanic peoples, such as Germans, Scandinavians, or Anglo-Saxons, or to their family of languages.

"English, German, and Swedish are all Germanic languages."

name

The family of related languages descended from a common ancestral language, including English, German, Dutch, and the Scandinavian languages.

"Linguists group English under Germanic rather than Romance languages."

How to use Germanic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBelonging to the language family and cultural group that includes English, German, Dutch, and the Scandinavian languages.

Common pairings

Germanic languages Germanic tribes Proto-Germanic

Word forms

more Germanic comparative, Germanics plural, most Germanic superlative

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English, German, and Swedish are all _____ languages.

Etymology

A learned borrowing from Latin germanicus, built on "German" plus the adjective ending "-ic."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for Germanic

manic panic organic titanic oceanic Hispanic mechanic volcanic inorganic

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Germanic” mean?

The word “Germanic” means relating to the Germanic peoples, such as Germans, Scandinavians, or Anglo-Saxons, or to their family of languages. In plain terms, belonging to the language family and cultural group that includes English, German, Dutch, and the Scandinavian languages.

How do you pronounce “Germanic”?

“Germanic” is pronounced jur-MAN-ihk (/d͡ʒɝˈmæn.ɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “Germanic” in a sentence?

Here is “Germanic” used in a sentence: “English, German, and Swedish are all Germanic languages.”

What part of speech is “Germanic”?

Depending on how it is used, “Germanic” can be an adjective and a name.

Where does the word “Germanic” come from?

The word “Germanic” comes from Latin. A learned borrowing from Latin germanicus, built on "German" plus the adjective ending "-ic.".

Is “Germanic” a common word?

“Germanic” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Germanic” have?

“Germanic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to the Germanic peoples, such as Germans, Scandinavians, or Anglo-Saxons, or to their family of languages.

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Vocabulary lists that include Germanic:

Words that end with C