German

Alternative forms

• (abbreviation): Germ.

Etymology

From Latin Germanus, Germani (“the peoples of Germania”), as distinct from Gauls (in the writings of Caesar and Tacitus), and of uncertain ultimate origin (possibly Celtic/Gaulish).

Not related to the Latin adjective germānus (whence the English words german and germane, through Old French). Attested since at least 1520. Replaced the older terms Almain and Dutch in English.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɜːmən/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɝmən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Ger‧man
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)mən

Noun

German (plural Germans)

1. A native or inhabitant of Germany; a person of German citizenship or nationality.
2. A member of the Germanic ethnic group which is the most populous ethnic group in Germany; a person of German descent.
3. (historical) A member of a Germanic tribe.

   Rome was sacked by Germans and the Western Roman Empire collapsed.

4. A German wine.
   • 1996, Jim Ainsworth, Passport's Guide to Britain's Best Restaurants:

     The wine list harbours some great bottles, mature clarets and Burgundies as well as a clutch of fine Germans (gold-dust these days in restaurants) […]

5. (uncountable, US printing, rare, dated) A size of type between American and Saxon, 1½-point type.

Proper noun

German

1. An Indo-European (Indo-Germanic) language, primarily spoken in Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, South Tyrol, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and a small part of Belgium.

   German has three genders: masculine, feminine and neuter.

Adjective

German (comparative more German, superlative most German or Germanest)

1. Of or relating to the nation of Germany.
   • 2001, Donald L. Niewyk, The Jews in Weimar Germany, →ISBN, page 31:

     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 […] .

2. Of or relating to the natives or inhabitants of Germany; to people of German descent.

   Her German husband has blond hair.

3. Of, in or relating to the German language.

   We take German classes twice a week.

   Because the instructions were German, Yves couldn't read them.

Further reading

• Leo's German - English Dictionary: from Department of Informatics of Technische Universität München
• ISO 639-1 code de, ISO 639-3 code deu
• Ethnologue entry for German, de

Anagrams

• Engram, Magner, Manger, engram, manger, ragmen

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

German n (genitive Germans, plural Germane)

1. (organic chemistry) germane

Proper noun

German m

1. A male given name

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡěrmaːn/
• Hyphenation: Ger‧man

Proper noun

Gèrmān m (Cyrillic spelling Гѐрма̄н)

1. German (member of a Germanic tribe)