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.
In real life
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