Kirche

Etymology

From Middle High German kirche, from Old High German chirihha, an early borrowing from Ancient Greek κυριακόν (kuriakón). Compare Dutch kerk, English church.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɪʁçə/, [ˈkɪʁçə], [ˈkɪɐ̯çə] (standard)

• IPA^(key): [ˈkɪɐ̯xə] (some speakers in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland)
• IPA^(key): [ˈkiːɐ̯çə] (Westphalian)

• audio (Germany)

  (file)

• audio (Austria)

  (file)

Noun

Kirche f (genitive Kirche, plural Kirchen, diminutive Kirchlein n)

1. church (building)
2. church (organised religion, especially Catholicism)
3. (obsolete) an assembly

See also

• Dom

Further reading

• Kirche in Duden online