A person who actively, and often violently, rises up against an existing government, authority, or order. The word is a rarer variant of 'Rebell' (rebel).
example
Die Truppen der Regierung kämpften gegen die Rebellen im Norden des Landes.
The government troops fought against the rebels in the north of the country.
Usage tips
Rare spelling
The spelling 'Rebel' with one 'l' is very rare. The usual Standard German form of this word is 'der Rebell' with double l.
EXAMPLE
In alten Texten findet man manchmal die Schreibweise „Rebel“.
In old texts, you sometimes find the spelling 'Rebel.'
Word family
The noun 'der Rebel' (rebel) belongs to the word family of the verb 'rebellieren' (to rebel). Someone who rebels is a 'Rebell' (or 'Rebel').
EXAMPLE
Die Jugend rebelliert oft gegen die Regeln der Erwachsenen.
Young people often rebel against the rules of adults.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning from the context. If it is about politics, war, or an uprising against a government, the first meaning is intended. If it is about behavior, fashion, or personal decisions, the second, figurative meaning is intended.
EXAMPLE
Die Armee nahm den Anführer der Rebeln gefangen.
The army captured the leader of the rebels.
Typical phrase
In the figurative meaning, the phrase 'ein kleiner Rebel sein' (to be a bit of a rebel) is often used. The adjective 'klein' (small) softens the meaning and describes someone who breaks norms in a harmless way.
EXAMPLE
Mit ihren bunten Haaren war sie in dem kleinen Dorf ein kleiner Rebel.
With her colorful hair, she was a bit of a rebel in the small village.
Compare with
synonym · confusable
Rebel vs Rebell
rebel
'der Rebell' and 'der Rebel' basically mean the same thing: a person who opposes a government, an authority, or social rules. The difference is mainly in the form. 'Rebell' is the normal and much more common form in German. 'Rebel' is a rarer variant and sounds unusual in many situations. Learners may confuse the words because they look almost the same and can sound the same. In normal texts and conversations, 'Rebell' is almost always the more natural choice.
Rebel
Der Rebel im Film hält sich an keine Regel der Stadt.
The rebel in the film follows none of the city’s rules.
Rebell
In der Geschichte wird der junge Mann zum Rebell gegen den König.
In the story, the young man becomes a rebel against the king.