der Eros
erotic love
Erotic love or sexual desire; often also the sensual attraction between people.
EXAMPLE
Der Eros zwischen den beiden Figuren prägt den ganzen Roman.
The eros between the two characters shapes the entire novel.
der Eros
Eros
der Eros
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Meanings
der Eros
Eros
The Greek god of love and desire, corresponding to Amor or Cupid in Roman mythology.
EXAMPLE
Der Eros wird in der griechischen Kunst meist als geflügelter Jüngling dargestellt.
In Greek art, Eros is usually depicted as a winged youth.
der Eros
life drive
In psychoanalysis, the life drive directed toward self-preservation, love, and connection with other people.
EXAMPLE
Nach Freud steht der Eros dem Todestrieb gegenüber.
According to Freud, Eros stands in opposition to the death drive.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Eros, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| genitive | des Eros |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Eros | – |
| accusative | den Eros | – |
| dative | dem Eros | – |
| genitive | des Eros | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Register and style
'Eros' is especially common in literary, philosophical, and academic texts. The word is used much less frequently in everyday speech.
EXAMPLE
Der Eros des Gedichts zeigt sich in seinen Bildern und Metaphern.
The eros of the poem is expressed through its imagery and metaphors.
Typical collocations
In the sense of sensual attraction, 'Eros' often occurs with expressions such as 'zwischen zwei Menschen' (between two people), 'in einer Beziehung' (in a relationship), or 'in einem Roman' (in a novel). The word often describes a powerful, atmospheric effect.
EXAMPLE
Der Film lebt vom Eros zwischen zwei Menschen, die sich nie berühren.
The film draws its power from the eros between two people who never touch.
Mythological context
The meaning referring to the deity is often clear from words associated with Greek mythology or art, such as 'Gott' (god), 'geflügelt' (winged), 'Statue' (statue), or 'Tempel' (temple). In these contexts, 'Eros' is treated as a figure.
EXAMPLE
Auf der antiken Vase ist der Eros mit Flügeln und einem Bogen dargestellt.
On the ancient vase, Eros is depicted with wings and a bow.
Psychoanalytic context
In psychoanalytic texts, 'Eros' can usually be recognized from references to Freud, drives, or the human psyche. This meaning belongs to the technical language of psychoanalysis.
EXAMPLE
In Freuds Theorie bezeichnet der Eros eine grundlegende Kraft des menschlichen Lebens.
In Freud's theory, Eros refers to a fundamental force of human life.
In real life
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