german
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German¹
- /ˈd͡ʒɜː.mən/ UK
- /ˈd͡ʒɝ.mən/ US
Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)mən
Where it comes from
From Latin Germānus, Germānī (“the peoples of Germānia”), as distinct from Gauls (in the writings of Caesar and Tacitus), and of uncertain ultimate origin (possibly Celtic/Gaulish).
Not related to german (“closely related”) or germane (from the Latin adjective germānus, through Old French).
Attested since at least 1520. Replaced the older terms Almain and Dutch (from Proto-Germanic *þiudiskaz) in English. Besides cognates of German, Almain, and Dutch, two other categories of words for the Germans in other languages are cognates of Saxon and descendants of Proto-Slavic *němьcь; see those entries for more.
The surname is generally from the noun, though sometimes confused with Herman, Hermann under Russian influence. As a German surname, Americanized from Germann. Compare Germán, Germain, Jerman.
noun Germans · Germ.
- A native or inhabitant of Germany. The holiday evolved over centuries as it was observed by different groups, from the Celts to Germans to the Pennsylvania Dutch and eventually, by those in other parts of the US.
-
A member of a Germanic tribe.
Rome was sacked by Germans and the Western Roman Empire collapsed.
Similar: Teuton
- A German wine. […] tie them tightly in a thickly floured cloth, and boil them for three hours and a half. We can recommend this as a remarkably light small rich pudding : it may be served with German, wine, or punch sauce.
- A size of type between American and Saxon, 1+¹⁄₂-point type.
- A Germany-produced car, a “German whip”. In my German, they calling me a baller (skrr) Got me feeling like Özil
- A prison warder. There are some 32 different terms for prison officers, from the humorously affectionate kanga(rhyming slang:kangaroo = screw) and the variants Scooby-Doo and Dr. Who via the mildly confrontational German (as if still the enemy over 50 years after World War II!) to the outright abuse of shit-parcel.
- Ellipsis of German cockroach
proper noun Germ.
- An Indo-European (Indo-Germanic) language, primarily spoken in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, South Tyrol, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and a small part of Belgium. Meronyms: Low German (Plattdeutsch), High German
- A surname.
- A male given name from Russian.
- A number of townships in the United States, listed under German Township.
- A parish of the sheading of Glenfaba, Isle of Man.
adjective more German · most German · Germanest · Germ.
- Of or relating to the nation of Germany. In Prussia, always the most progressive of the German states during the Weimar years and a stronghold of the two parties, Jews could be found in virtually all administrative departments […].
- Of or relating to the natives or inhabitants of Germany; to people of German descent; to their cultures. Her German husband has blond hair.
-
Of, in or relating to the German language.
Because the instructions were German, Yves couldn't read them.
Similar: Deutsch
german²
- /ˈd͡ʒɜː.mən/ UK
- /ˈd͡ʒɝ.mən/ US
Where it comes from
From Old French germain, from Latin germānus, from germen (“seed, sprout, bud”). See also germane, a formal variant which has survived in specific senses. Not related to the proper noun German.
adjective more german · most german · germane
- Having the same mother and father; a full (brother or sister). brother-german
- Being born to one’s blood aunt or uncle; a first (cousin). cousin-german
- Closely related, akin. After this Merlyn told vnto kynge Arthur of the prophecye / that there shold be a grete batail besyde Salysbury and Mordred his owne sone sholde be ageynste hym / Also he tolde hym that Basdemegus was his cosyn and germayn vnto kynge Vryence
noun germans
- A near relative. Which when his german saw, the stony feare / Ran to his hart, and all his sence dismayd […]
german³
- /ˈd͡ʒɜː.mən/ UK
- /ˈd͡ʒɝ.mən/ US
Where it comes from
From German (“of Germany”).
noun germans
- An elaborate round dance, often with a waltz movement. Through the years, though, the german was replaced by new and more popular dances, but in many instances the name stayed on.
- A social party at which the german is danced.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: teutonic, germanic, high german, german language, deutsch, germania, germany, dutch, hessian, tak, berlin, bonn, federal, ger, language, germane
Translations
Every language
noun native or inhabitant of Germany; person of German citizenship or nationality
| Español | alemán, alemana |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 독일 사람 dogil saram, 독일인 dogirin |
| 日本語 | ドイツ人 Doitsujin |
| 中文 | 德國人 /德国人 Déguórén |
| हिन्दी | जरमन jarman, जर्मन jarman, अलमानी almānī |
| Kiswahili | Mjerumani |
| Português | alemão, alemã |
| Français | Allemand, Allemande |
| Deutsch | Deutscher, Deutsche |
| Italiano | tedesco, tedesca |
| Ελληνικά | Γερμανός Germanós, Γερμανίδα Germanída |
| Română | german, germancă, neamț, nemțoaică |
| Русский | не́мец némec, не́мка némka, герма́нец germánec, герма́нка germánka |
| Tiếng Việt | người Đức |
| العربية | أَلْمَانِيّ ʔalmāniyy, أَلْمَانِيَّة ʔalmāniyya |
| עברית | גֶּרְמָנִי germaní |
noun member of the Germanic ethnic group which is the most populous ethnic group in Germany
| 中文 | 德意志人 déyìzhìrén |
|---|---|
| Português | germânico, germânica |
| Français | Allemand, Allemande |
| Deutsch | Deutscher, Deutsche |
| Română | german, germană |
| Русский | не́мец némec, не́мка némka |
| עברית | גרמני ger'manee |
noun member of a Germanic tribe
| Español | germano, germana |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 日耳曼人 rìěrmànrén |
| Português | germano, germana |
| Français | Germain, Germaine |
| Deutsch | Germane, Germanin |
| Italiano | germano, germana |
| Română | germanic |
| Русский | герма́нец germánec, герма́нка germánka |
| العربية | جِرْمَانِيّ jirmāniyy, جِرْمَانِيَّة jirmāniyya, جِرْمَانِيُّون jirmāniyyūn |
noun 1½-point type
| Deutsch | Achtelcicero |
|---|
name the German language
| Español | alemán |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 독일어 Dogireo, 독어 Dogeo |
| 日本語 | ドイツ語 Doitsu-go, 独語 Dokugo |
| 中文 | 德語 /德语 déyǔ, 德文 déwén |
| हिन्दी | जर्मन jarman, जरमन jarman |
| Kiswahili | kijerumani |
| Português | alemão |
| Français | allemand |
| Deutsch | Deutsch, deutsche Sprache |
| Italiano | tedesco |
| Ελληνικά | γερμανικά germaniká |
| Română | germană, nemțește, nemțească, limba germană |
| Русский | неме́цкий neméckij, неме́цкий язы́к neméckij jazýk |
| Tiếng Việt | tiếng Đức |
| العربية | الأَلْمَانِيَّة al-ʔalmāniyya, اللُّغَة الأَلْمَانِيَّة al-luḡa l-ʔalmāniyya, أَلْمَانِيّ ʔalmāniyy |
| עברית | גרמנית germanít |
adj of or relating to the country of Germany
| Español | alemán |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 독일의 Dogir-ui |
| 日本語 | ドイツの Doitsu no, 独 Doku |
| 中文 | 德國 /德国 Déguó, 德 dé |
| हिन्दी | जरमन jarman |
| Português | alemão, germânico |
| Français | allemand |
| Deutsch | deutsch |
| Italiano | tedesco |
| Ελληνικά | γερμανικός germanikós |
| Română | german |
| Русский | неме́цкий neméckij, герма́нский germánskij |
| Tiếng Việt | Đức |
| العربية | أَلْمَانِيّ ʔalmāniyy |
| עברית | גֶּרְמָנִי germaní |
adj of or relating to the German people
| Español | alemán |
|---|---|
| Português | alemão, germânico |
| Deutsch | deutsch |
| Ελληνικά | γερμανικός germanikós |
| Русский | неме́цкий neméckij |
adj of or relating to the German language
| Español | alemán |
|---|---|
| Português | alemão |
| Deutsch | deutsch |
| Ελληνικά | γερμανικός germanikós |
| Русский | неме́цкий neméckij |
| العربية | أَلْمَانِيّ ʔalmāniyy |
adj (brother or sister) sharing parents
| Español | hermano carnal |
|---|---|
| Português | germano |
| Français | germain |
| Ελληνικά | αμφιθαλής amfithalís |
| Русский | кро́вный брат króvnyj brat, кро́вная сестра́ króvnaja sestrá |
adj (cousin) born to one’s blood aunt or uncle
| Español | primo carnal |
|---|---|
| Français | germain |
| Русский | двою́родный брат dvojúrodnyj brat, двою́родная сестра́ dvojúrodnaja sestrá |
Talk about this word "german." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/german. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. german. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/german "german." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/german.Cite this
@misc{german_2026,
title = {german},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/german},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
