01
deutsch
German
Relates to Germany, its inhabitants, its culture, or its language.
example
Mein Lieblingsessen ist eine deutsche Spezialität.
My favorite food is a German specialty.
deutsch
German
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 02
Usage tips
Word family
The adjective 'deutsch' (German) is the basis for other important words. These include the country 'Deutschland' (Germany) and the term for a person, 'der/die Deutsche' (the German person).
EXAMPLE
Viele Touristen besuchen Deutschland wegen der deutschen Kultur.
Many tourists visit Germany because of German culture.
Capitalization
As an adjective before a noun or as an adverb, 'deutsch' (German) is written with a lowercase letter. When it refers to the language as a noun, it is capitalized: 'das Deutsch' (German).
EXAMPLE
Er lernt seit einem Jahr Deutsch.
He has been learning German for a year.
Fixed expression
The expression 'auf gut Deutsch' (in plain language) is a fixed idiom. It is used to announce that you are now going to say something very directly, honestly, and perhaps even rudely.
EXAMPLE
Auf gut Deutsch gesagt, die ganze Arbeit war umsonst.
To put it in plain language, all the work was for nothing.
Compare with
deutsch vs direkt
direct
'deutsch' and 'direkt' are similar only in one specific idiom: 'auf gut Deutsch' means that you say something clearly and without beating around the bush. In this sense, it is similar to 'direkt'. However, 'direkt' can be used generally for open and honest statements. 'Deutsch' does not have this meaning on its own, but only in the fixed expression 'auf gut Deutsch'. Outside this expression, 'deutsch' normally refers to Germany or the German language.
deutsch
Auf gut Deutsch: Wir haben für dieses Projekt zu wenig Zeit.
To put it in plain language: we don't have enough time for this project.
direkt
Herr Hoffmann ist im Gespräch sehr direkt, aber nicht unfreundlich.
Mr. Hoffmann is very direct in conversation, but not unfriendly.
In real life
Loading video examples...