Membel
German ADJECTIVE C1 Rank 15314

imperial

Checking...

Loading your saved state.

Meanings

01 / 02
01

imperial

Relating to an empire or an emperor; imperial. It often describes power, grandeur, or architecture associated with an empire.

example

Die imperialen Bauten in Wien zeugen von der einstigen Macht der Habsburger.

The imperial buildings in Vienna bear witness to the former power of the Habsburgs.

Visual example for imperial: imperial

Usage tips

Compare with

near_synonym · confusable

imperial vs königlich

royal

'königlich' and 'imperial' can both describe something stately, splendid, or very grand. Literally, the difference is clear: 'königlich' refers to a king, a queen, or a kingdom. 'imperial' refers to an empire or an emperor and often sounds more formal or historical. Figuratively, both can stand for something magnificent, but 'königlich' is more natural in everyday language, for example with food or enjoyment. 'imperial' fits better with architecture, style, power, or history. They can be confused because both are connected with rule and splendor.

Visual example for königlich
imperial

Für das Projekt hat ich viele Fotos von imperialen Gebäuden in Wien gesammelt.

For the project, I collected many photos of imperial buildings in Vienna.

königlich

Nach der langen Wanderung essen wir ein königliches Frühstück im Hotel.

After the long hike, we eat a royal breakfast at the hotel.

Open full lesson: königlich →

In real life

Loading video examples...