name
Common
Karl
Karl (name) means a male given name of Germanic origin, the same name as English Charles. Example: “Her grandfather, Karl, emigrated from Berlin in the 1950s.”
name
1
A male given name of Germanic origin, the same name as English Charles.
"“We are pleased that LSST has now been named the Vera C. Rubin Observatory,” said Rubin’s sons Allan Rubin, David Rubin, and Karl Rubin in a statement."
— Ashley Strickland, First US observatory named in honor of a female astronomer, Vera Rubin (2020)
"Her grandfather, Karl, emigrated from Berlin in the 1950s."
noun
1
In medieval Scandinavia, a free (non-noble, non-enslaved) man.
"The saga describes both the jarls and the ordinary karls of the village."
How to use Karl
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA traditional Germanic and Scandinavian man's name, equivalent to Charles.
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Word forms
- Plural
- karls
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Her grandfather, _____, emigrated from Berlin in the 1950s.
Etymology
From German and Scandinavian Karl, going back to a Germanic root meaning "free man." It is the same word that gives English the name Charles.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Karl
See all rhymes for Karl →Frequently asked questions
What does “Karl” mean?
The word “Karl” means a male given name of Germanic origin, the same name as English Charles. In plain terms, a traditional Germanic and Scandinavian man's name, equivalent to Charles.
How do you use “Karl” in a sentence?
Here is “Karl” used in a sentence: “Her grandfather, Karl, emigrated from Berlin in the 1950s.”
What part of speech is “Karl”?
Depending on how it is used, “Karl” can be a name and a noun.
Where does the word “Karl” come from?
The word “Karl” comes from Germanic. From German and Scandinavian Karl, going back to a Germanic root meaning "free man." It is the same word that gives English the name Charles.
Is “Karl” a common word?
“Karl” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Karl” have?
“Karl” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a male given name of Germanic origin, the same name as English Charles.
Is Karl the same name as Charles?
Yes. Karl is a male given name of Germanic origin and is the same underlying name as English Charles. The two are different language forms of one name, so Karl in German or Scandinavian contexts corresponds to Charles in English.
What was a karl in medieval Scandinavia?
In medieval Scandinavia, a karl was a free man who was neither noble nor enslaved. Karls formed the broad class of ordinary free people, sitting between the aristocracy and those held in slavery in the social order of the time.
Is it spelled Karl or Carl?
Both spellings are long-established forms of the same name. Karl is the usual spelling in German and Scandinavian languages, while Carl is a common variant, particularly in English-speaking countries. Neither spelling is more correct; the choice is a matter of family tradition and language background.
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