ledig
single
The official marital status of a person who is not married.
EXAMPLE
Bitte kreuzen Sie Ihren Familienstand an: verheiratet, ledig oder geschieden.
Please tick your marital status: married, single, or divorced.
ledig
single / free
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Meanings
ledig
free
An outdated or literary meaning for 'free from something' or 'released from something'.
EXAMPLE
Nachdem er die Prüfung bestanden hatte, fühlte er sich aller Sorgen ledig.
After he had passed the exam, he felt free of all worries.
Usage tips
Official marital status
The word 'ledig' (single) is the official term for the marital status 'not married'. You find it especially on forms, in official documents, and in administrative language.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Formular müssen Sie Ihren Familienstand angeben: ledig, verheiratet, geschieden oder verwitwet.
On the form, you must state your marital status: single, married, divorced, or widowed.
Outdated meaning
The meaning 'free from something' is very rare today and belongs to elevated, literary language. In this usage, 'ledig' (free) almost always appears with a noun in the genitive.
EXAMPLE
Er war endlich aller finanziellen Sorgen ledig.
He was finally free of all financial worries.
Word origin
The original meaning of 'ledig' was 'free, detached, unbound'. From this developed today's main meaning, 'not bound by marriage'. Knowing the origin helps you understand both meanings.
EXAMPLE
Als lediger Mann hatte er keine familiären Verpflichtungen.
As a single man, he had no family obligations.
Compare with
ledig vs frei
free
Frei and ledig can express that someone has been released from a duty. Frei von is the usual form in present-day standard German. In this meaning, ledig sounds outdated or literary and is suitable only when that style is intended.
ledig
Nach der Übergabe war sie aller Pflichten ledig.
After the handover, she was relieved of all duties.
frei
Nach der Übergabe ist sie frei von allen Pflichten.
After the handover, she is free from all duties.
In real life
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