01
der Nachkomme
descendant
A person who is descended from someone in a direct line; a child, grandchild, or later descendant.
example
Er ist ein direkter Nachkomme eines berühmten Komponisten.
He is a direct descendant of a famous composer.
der Nachkomme
descendant
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is made up of 'nach' (after) and the verb 'kommen' (to come). A 'Nachkomme' (descendant) is therefore literally someone who 'comes' after another person in the family line.
EXAMPLE
Die Ausstellung zeigt Porträts der königlichen Familie und ihrer Nachkommen.
The exhibition shows portraits of the royal family and their descendants.
N-declension
'Nachkomme' (descendant) is a weak noun (N-declension). This means it takes the ending '-n' in all cases except the nominative singular. This also applies to the feminine form 'die Nachkommin' (female descendant).
EXAMPLE
Das Erbe wurde an den einzigen Nachkommen verteilt.
The inheritance was distributed to the only descendant.
Typical collocations
Descent is often expressed with the preposition 'von' (from/of). Typical adjectives are 'direkt' (direct), 'männlich' (male), or 'weiblich' (female).
EXAMPLE
Sie ist eine direkte Nachkommin von Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
She is a direct female descendant of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Compare with
Nachkomme vs Kind
child
'das Kind' and 'der Nachkomme' can both refer to a person who is descended from someone. In this relationship, 'Kind' means one's own son or daughter, no matter how old that person is. 'Nachkomme' is broader: it can be a child, a grandchild, or a much later person in the family line. The word also sounds more formal and is often used when talking about family history or descent. The words are confusable because one's own child is also a descendant. But if you are speaking directly about a son or daughter, 'Kind' is more natural.
Nachkomme
Simon ist ein Nachkomme einer Familie, die früher in diesem Dorf lebte.
Simon is a descendant of a family that used to live in this village.
Kind
Meine Tante besucht ihr Kind jedes Wochenende in München.
My aunt visits her child in Munich every weekend.
In real life
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