gottlos
godless
Without belief in God or any religious affiliation.
EXAMPLE
Er bezeichnet sich selbst als gottlos und gehört keiner Religion an.
He describes himself as godless and does not belong to any religion.
gottlos
godless
gottlos – gottloser – am gottlosesten
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Meanings
gottlos
godless
Violating religious commandments or beliefs; regarded as sacrilegious or especially morally reprehensible.
EXAMPLE
Die Gläubigen hielten die Zerstörung des Heiligtums für eine gottlose Tat.
The believers considered the destruction of the sanctuary a godless act.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry gottlos, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | gottlos |
|---|---|
| comparative | gottloser |
| superlative | am gottlosesten |
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to gottlos.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to gottlos.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to gottlos.
Usage tips
Word structure
'Gottlos' (godless) is made up of 'Gott' (God) and '-los' (-less). The suffix '-los' indicates the absence of something, so the word literally means 'ohne Gott' (without God), or more broadly 'ohne religiöse Bindung' (without religious affiliation) or 'ohne Bezug zu religiösen Geboten' (without regard for religious commandments).
EXAMPLE
Er führt ein gottloses Leben und interessiert sich nicht für Religion.
He leads a godless life and has no interest in religion.
Context clue
When 'gottlos' (godless) describes a person or their religious outlook, it usually refers to a lack of belief or religious affiliation. When used with an act, action, or behavior, it usually expresses strong religious or moral condemnation.
EXAMPLE
In ihrer Jugend war sie gottlos, erst später fand sie zum Glauben.
In her youth she was godless; only later did she find faith.
Der Prediger nannte den Überfall auf die Pilger eine gottlose Tat.
The preacher called the attack on the pilgrims a godless act.
Typical collocations
In its judgmental sense, 'gottlos' (godless) often accompanies words such as 'Tat' (act), 'Handlung' (action), and 'Verhalten' (behavior). These combinations express particularly strong moral or religious disapproval.
EXAMPLE
Die Zerstörung des Friedhofs wurde als gottloses Verhalten verurteilt.
The destruction of the cemetery was condemned as godless behavior.
In real life
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