01
die Seele
soul
The immaterial, feeling, and thinking part of a person that makes up their personality and innermost self.
example
Gute Musik ist Balsam für die Seele.
Good music is balm for the soul.
die Seele
soul
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Fixed expressions
'Die Seele' (the soul) is part of many figurative expressions. The phrase 'sich etwas von der Seele reden' means to talk about something burdensome in order to feel relieved.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem langen Gespräch mit seiner Freundin hatte er das Gefühl, sich alles von der Seele geredet zu haben.
After the long conversation with his girlfriend, he felt that he had gotten everything off his chest.
With body and soul
The idiom 'mit Leib und Seele' means that someone does something with complete dedication and passion. It describes very intense involvement.
EXAMPLE
Sie ist mit Leib und Seele Lehrerin.
She is a teacher with body and soul.
The good soul
The phrase 'die gute Seele' (the good soul) is often used with a genitive construction or the preposition 'von' (of/from) to describe belonging. It refers to a person who is caring and central to a group.
EXAMPLE
Unsere Sekretärin ist die gute Seele des Büros.
Our secretary is the good soul of the office.
Register: old-fashioned
The use of 'Seele' (soul) as a term for an inhabitant is old-fashioned or literary. In modern usage, 'Einwohner' (inhabitant) is used instead. You often find this meaning in historical texts or stories.
EXAMPLE
Das Fischerdorf zählte nur fünfzig Seelen.
The fishing village counted only fifty souls.
Register: technical language
In the meaning 'inner hollow space,' 'Seele' is a technical term. It is used only when talking about specific objects such as firearms or certain musical instruments.
EXAMPLE
Die Seele der Geige überträgt die Schwingungen auf den Korpus.
The soundpost of the violin transmits the vibrations to the body.
Compare with
Seele vs Mensch
human / person
'der Mensch' and 'die Seele' can both mean a person in some contexts. 'der Mensch' is the normal word for a person or for a human being in general. 'die Seele' usually means a person's inner life, that is, their feelings and personality. Only in certain expressions or in rather old-fashioned language can 'Seele' stand for a person, for example 'keine Seele' (not a soul) or 'die gute Seele des Teams' (the good soul of the team). In everyday language, 'Mensch' is usually clearer for a person; 'Seele' sounds more figurative and often more emotional.
Seele
Frau Becker ist die gute Seele des Büros, weil sie sich um alle kümmert.
Ms. Becker is the good soul of the office because she looks after everyone.
Mensch
Jeder Mensch braucht manchmal Ruhe und Zeit für sich.
Every person sometimes needs peace and time to themselves.
In real life
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