in person / real
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in person
Physically present in person; personally present rather than existing only as an image, idea, or name.
Plötzlich stand der berühmte Autor leibhaftig vor uns.
Suddenly, the famous author was standing in person right in front of us.
real / actual
Really and actually present; often used to describe something in a particularly vivid or striking way.
Er hielt den maskierten Fremden für den leibhaftigen Teufel.
He took the masked stranger for the actual Devil.
| basic form | leibhaftig |
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| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to leibhaftig.
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
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| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to leibhaftig.
| 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 leibhaftig.
'Leibhaftig' (in person / real) contains the word 'Leib' (body) and thus refers to a person who is physically present or to something that has really taken shape. The form makes the idea of immediate, visible reality especially vivid.
Nach all den Briefen begegnete sie ihrem Brieffreund nun leibhaftig.
After all those letters, she finally met her pen pal in person.
In the meaning 'personally present', 'leibhaftig' (in person) is often used with verbs of seeing or meeting, or in the expression 'leibhaftig vor jemandem stehen' (to be standing right in front of someone). It emphasizes that the person is actually physically present.
Zum ersten Mal sah ich die Schauspielerin leibhaftig auf der Bühne.
For the first time, I saw the actress in person on stage.
Die Fans konnten es kaum glauben: Ihr Idol stand leibhaftig vor ihnen.
The fans could hardly believe it: their idol was standing right in front of them.
In its second meaning, 'leibhaftig' (real / actual) intensifies a description and makes it especially vivid or dramatic. It often refers to a symbolic, religious, or fictional figure.
Für die verängstigten Kinder sah der strenge Hausmeister wie der leibhaftige Teufel aus.
To the frightened children, the strict caretaker looked like the actual Devil.
