01
der Urgroßvater
great-grandfather
The father of one's grandfather or grandmother.
example
Mein Urgroßvater wurde 1890 geboren und hat zwei Weltkriege erlebt.
My great-grandfather was born in 1890 and lived through two world wars.
der Urgroßvater
great-grandfather
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word composition
The word is made up of the prefix 'Ur-' and 'Großvater' (grandfather). The prefix 'Ur-' here means 'one generation earlier' and is used for ancestors.
EXAMPLE
Der Urgroßvater meiner Freundin kommt aus Italien.
My friend's great-grandfather comes from Italy.
Word family
The prefix 'Ur-' is used systematically for older generations and their descendants. So there is also 'Urgroßmutter' (great-grandmother), 'Urgroßeltern' (great-grandparents), and 'Urenkel' (great-grandchildren; children of the grandchildren).
EXAMPLE
Meine Urgroßmutter hat über zehn Urenkel.
My great-grandmother has more than ten great-grandchildren.
Typical collocations
To specify which side of the family the great-grandfather comes from, you use the additions 'väterlicherseits' (on the father's side) or 'mütterlicherseits' (on the mother's side).
EXAMPLE
Mein Urgroßvater väterlicherseits war Landwirt.
My great-grandfather on my father's side was a farmer.
Compare with
Urgroßvater vs Großvater
grandfather
'der Großvater' and 'der Urgroßvater' both describe male ancestors in the family. The difference is the generation. The grandfather is the father of your mother or father. The great-grandfather is one generation older: he is the father of your grandfather or grandmother. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with 'Großvater'. Here, 'Ur-' shows: one generation further back.
Urgroßvater
In der Familie erzählt man oft von dem Urgroßvater, der aus Polen kam.
In the family, people often talk about the great-grandfather who came from Poland.
Großvater
Sie besucht heute ihren Großvater, weil er Hilfe beim Arzttermin braucht.
She is visiting her grandfather today because he needs help with a doctor's appointment.
In real life
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