01
der Glaube
faith
The religious conviction in the existence of one or more gods or a higher power, and the teachings connected with it.
example
Sein Glaube gibt ihm in schwierigen Zeiten Halt.
His faith gives him support in difficult times.
der Glaube
faith / belief
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
'Der Glaube' (faith/belief) is the noun related to the verb 'glauben' (to believe). If you know the verb, you can easily work out the meaning of the noun.
EXAMPLE
Ich glaube an eine bessere Zukunft, und dieser Glaube gibt mir Kraft.
I believe in a better future, and this belief gives me strength.
Fixed preposition
The noun 'Glaube' (faith/belief) is very often used with the preposition 'an' and the accusative. This structure expresses what the conviction or trust is directed toward.
EXAMPLE
Der Glaube an den Fortschritt war im 19. Jahrhundert sehr stark.
Belief in progress was very strong in the 19th century.
Context clue
You can tell from context whether the religious or the general meaning is intended. 'Der Glaube an Gott' (faith in God) is religious, while 'der Glaube an die Wissenschaft' (belief in science) or 'der Glaube an das Gute im Menschen' (belief in the good in people) describes a general conviction.
EXAMPLE
Der Glaube an die Demokratie ist die Basis unserer Gesellschaft.
Belief in democracy is the foundation of our society.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'Vertrauen' (trust), 'Glaube' is often used in fixed expressions, such as 'den Glauben an etwas verlieren' (to lose belief/faith in something), 'im guten Glauben handeln' (to act in good faith), or 'der Glaube versetzt Berge' (faith can move mountains).
EXAMPLE
Er handelte im guten Glauben, das Richtige zu tun.
He acted in good faith, believing he was doing the right thing.
Context clue
When a specific religion is meant, 'Glaube' often appears in the plural or in genitive constructions such as 'Menschen unterschiedlichen Glaubens' (people of different faiths). The context is then usually about different religions or cultures.
EXAMPLE
In dieser Stadt leben Menschen vieler verschiedener Glaubensrichtungen friedlich zusammen.
In this city, people of many different faiths live together peacefully.
Compare with
Glaube vs Meinung
opinion
'die Meinung' and 'der Glaube' can both express what someone considers right or true. 'Meinung' is usually a personal opinion on a topic, something that can be discussed. 'Glaube' is often firmer and deeper. It can be religious, or it can mean strong trust in something, even without certain proof. Learners may confuse the words because in everyday German people sometimes say 'Ich glaube, dass ...' ('I think/believe that ...') when they actually mean an opinion. As a noun, however, 'der Glaube' is stronger and often connected with religion or deep trust. For ordinary views, 'die Meinung' is usually the right choice.
Glaube
Der Glaube gibt ihm in schwierigen Zeiten viel Kraft.
His faith gives him a lot of strength in difficult times.
Meinung
Sie erklärt im Kurs ihre Meinung zum neuen Verkehrskonzept.
She explains her opinion about the new traffic plan in the course.
In real life
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