Jump to content

German Genealogical Word List: Difference between revisions

German Genealogical Word List (view source)

Revision as of 13:59, 20 March 2025

3,089 bytes added ,  20 March
→‎K
VisualWikitext
m (→‎N: Added word nemlich.)
 
(72 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 23: Line 23:
German words for persons, places, and things (nouns) are always capitalized. All nouns are classified as masculine, feminine, or neuter. This classification is called gender. The gender of a noun is indicated by der (masculine), die (feminine), and das (neuter), all three of which translate as "the." Word endings may vary depending on the way the words are used in the sentence.  
German words for persons, places, and things (nouns) are always capitalized. All nouns are classified as masculine, feminine, or neuter. This classification is called gender. The gender of a noun is indicated by der (masculine), die (feminine), and das (neuter), all three of which translate as "the." Word endings may vary depending on the way the words are used in the sentence.  


==='''Variant Forms of Words'''===
===Variant Forms of Words===
In German, as in English, the forms of some words will vary according to how they are used in the sentence. Who—whose—whom or marry—marries—married are examples of words in English with variant forms. In German, the form of many words can change greatly. This word list focuses on the standard form of each German word. As you read German records, you will need to be aware that some words vary with usage.  
In German, as in English, the forms of some words will vary according to how they are used in the sentence. Who—whose—whom or marry—marries—married are examples of words in English with variant forms. In German, the form of many words can change greatly. This word list focuses on the standard form of each German word. As you read German records, you will need to be aware that some words vary with usage.  


Line 35: Line 35:


===Dialects===
===Dialects===
Germany has a range of different dialects. These can be grouped into two main groups: Low German spoken in the northern lowlands of Germany, and High German spoken in the more mountainous south. Traditional dialects form a continuum as opposed to sharp charges, with dialects slowing becoming more "Low German" as one moves towards the north-east. Dutch dialects can be viewed as a continuation of this continuum.   
Germany has a range of different dialects. These can be grouped into two main groups: Low German spoken in the northern lowlands of Germany, and High German spoken in the more mountainous south. Traditional dialects form a continuum as opposed to sharp charges, with dialects slowing becoming more "Low German" as one moves towards the north. Dutch dialects can be viewed as a continuation of this continuum.   


High German has become the most "standard" dialect of German. See these wiki articles for specific information on Low German: [[Low German Language in German Research]], [[The Dialect Basis of Spelling Variation in German Surnames]], [[Spelling Variants in the Northern Rheinland]].
High German has become the most "standard" dialect of German. See these wiki articles for specific information on Low German: [[Low German Language in German Research]], [[The Dialect Basis of Spelling Variation in German Surnames]], [[Spelling Variants in the Northern Rheinland]].
Line 41: Line 41:
==Diacritic Marks==
==Diacritic Marks==


German uses diacritics over several letters, i.e. Ä (ä), Ö (ö), Ü (ü). These diacritics are not optional in German because the pronunciation and meaning of a word will be changed depending on whether the diacritic is added or omitted. There is another symbol that will be found in German, namely ß.  It has the value of <ss>. Historically, German also included Ÿ (ÿ) which today has been replaced with the letters&nbsp;I (i) and Ü (ü).  
German uses diacritics over several letters, i.e. Ä (ä), Ö (ö), Ü (ü). These diacritics are not optional in German because the pronunciation and meaning of a word will be changed depending on whether the diacritic is added or omitted. There is another symbol that will be found in German, namely ß.  It has the value of <ss>. Historically, German also included Ÿ (ÿ) which today has been replaced with the letters I (i) and Ü (ü).  


For data entry and some searches, it is useful to know how to create these characters. Note: Do not use diacritics when searching in the FamilySearch Catalog.  
For data entry and some searches, it is useful to know how to create these characters. Note: Do not use diacritics when searching in the FamilySearch Catalog.  
Line 71: Line 71:
|ß
|ß
|Alt + 225
|Alt + 225
|&nbsp;
|  
|&nbsp;
|  
|-
|-
|Ÿ
|Ÿ
Line 114: Line 114:


*n transcribed u or w
*n transcribed u or w
*e transcribed n or r
*r transcribed s
*r transcribed s
*Z transcribed F, G, J, or L
*Z transcribed F, G, J, or L
Line 128: Line 129:
==Additional Resources==
==Additional Resources==


This word list includes only words most commonly found in genealogical sources. For further help, use a German-English dictionary. Several German-English dictionaries are available in the Family History Library. These are in the European collection. The call numbers begin with 433.21.  
This word list includes only words most commonly found in genealogical sources. For further help, use a German-English dictionary. Several German-English dictionaries are available in the FamilySearch Library. These are in the European collection. The call numbers begin with 433.21.  


Particularly helpful dictionaries include:  
Particularly helpful dictionaries include:  


*''Langenscheidt New Muret-Sanders Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English and German Languages''. Berlin, Germany: Langenscheidt, 1969, 1974 (FHL book 433.21 Sp83n).
*''Langenscheidt New Muret-Sanders Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English and German Languages''. Berlin, Germany: Langenscheidt, 1969, 1974 (FS Library book 433.21 Sp83n).


*''The New Cassell’s German Dictionary, German-English, English-German''. New York, NY, USA: Funk and Wagnalls, Inc., 1971 (FHL book 433.211 C272 1971).
*''The New Cassell’s German Dictionary, German-English, English-German''. New York, NY, USA: Funk and Wagnalls, Inc., 1971 (FS Library book 433.211 C272 1971).


*''Rudy's List of Archaic Medical Terms''. German and Latin terms are included at this [http://www.antiquusmorbus.com/ website].
*''Rudy's List of Archaic Medical Terms''. German and Latin terms are included at this [http://www.antiquusmorbus.com/ website].
Line 144: Line 145:
Additional dictionaries are listed in the subject section of the FamilySearch Catalog under GERMAN LANGUAGE - DICTIONARIES or in the locality section under GERMANY - LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES.
Additional dictionaries are listed in the subject section of the FamilySearch Catalog under GERMAN LANGUAGE - DICTIONARIES or in the locality section under GERMANY - LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES.


*[https://script.byu.edu/Pages/the-german-documents-pages/the-german-documents(english) BYU Script German Tutorials]
*[https://script.byu.edu/german-handwriting/introduction BYU Script German Tutorials]


For resources showing how any name or word looks written in the old German script, see Language Aids at [[Germany Languages]].
For resources showing how any name or word looks written in the old German script, see Language Aids at [[Germany Languages]].
Line 294: Line 295:
|-
|-
|'''English'''
|'''English'''
|&nbsp;
|  
|'''German'''
|'''German'''
|-
|-
|Sunday
|Sunday
|&nbsp;
|  
|Sonntag
|Sonntag
|-
|-
|Monday
|Monday
|&nbsp;
|  
|Montag
|Montag
|-
|-
|Tuesday
|Tuesday
|&nbsp;
|  
|Dienstag
|Dienstag
|-
|-
|Wednesday
|Wednesday
|&nbsp;
|  
|Mittwoch
|Mittwoch
|-
|-
|Thursday
|Thursday
|&nbsp;
|  
|Donnerstag
|Donnerstag
|-
|-
|Friday
|Friday
|&nbsp;
|  
|Freitag, Freytag
|Freitag, Freytag
|-
|-
|Saturday
|Saturday
|&nbsp;
|  
|Samstag, Sonnabend
|Samstag, Sonnabend
|}
|}
Line 384: Line 385:
|mitternachts
|mitternachts
|at midnight
|at midnight
|-
|Diesen tag
|this (very) day, today
|-
|-
|}
|}
Line 900: Line 904:
|-
|-
|Exner
|Exner
|poorer framer who used oxen
|poorer farmer who used oxen
|-
|-
|Feuerstättler
|Feuerstättler
Line 1,044: Line 1,048:
|-
|-
|Söldner
|Söldner
|farmer who farmed on a small section of land called a “Sölde”
|farmer who farmed on a small section of land called a “Sölde”; or a mercenary soldier
|-
|-
|Strassenkötter
|Strassenkötter
Line 1,120: Line 1,124:
|Ab., Abe. = Abbaue(e), Ausbau(e)
|Ab., Abe. = Abbaue(e), Ausbau(e)
|surface mine(s)
|surface mine(s)
|-
|(haben) abgebeten, abgebethen
|(have) performed penance, apologized, asked for pardon
|-
|-
|Abt. = Abteilung
|Abt. = Abteilung
Line 1,127: Line 1,134:
|on the, by the (followed by the name of a river or other geographical feature)
|on the, by the (followed by the name of a river or other geographical feature)
|-
|-
|A.G. = Amtsgericht
|A.G. = Amtsgericht  
|lower court, county court
|lower court district, county court district
|-
|-
|Anh. = Anhalt
|Anh. = Anhalt
Line 1,285: Line 1,292:
|Anspänner
|Anspänner
|farmer
|farmer
|-
|Anzeigender
|informant
|-
|-
|apostolisch
|apostolisch
Line 1,294: Line 1,304:
|Arbeiter, Arbeitsmann
|Arbeiter, Arbeitsmann
|laborer, worker
|laborer, worker
|-
|Arbeitsbuch
|employment record book
|-
|-
|Archiv
|Archiv
Line 1,575: Line 1,588:
|Bürgermeister
|Bürgermeister
|mayor
|mayor
|-
|Büroangestellte
|office worker, clerk, white-collar worker
|-
|-
|Bursch, Pursch
|Bursch, Pursch
Line 1,688: Line 1,704:
|Dienstag
|Dienstag
|Tuesday
|Tuesday
|-
|Dienstbotin
|servant (girl)
|-
|-
|Dienstmagd
|Dienstmagd
Line 1,697: Line 1,716:
|dimittiert, dimittirt
|dimittiert, dimittirt
|dismissed (in order to be married in another parish)
|dismissed (in order to be married in another parish)
|-
|Dispensation(en)
|dispensation(s), special permission
|-
|-
|Distrikt
|Distrikt
Line 1,703: Line 1,725:
|Domäne
|Domäne
|domain
|domain
|-
|Dominikalist
|a list pertaining to the manor or estate; feudal Familiant
|-
|-
|Donnerstag
|Donnerstag
Line 1,758: Line 1,783:
|ehrngeachte
|ehrngeachte
|honorable
|honorable
|-
|einkindschaften
|to officially accept/recognize a stepchild as one's own, to legally inherit along with any biological children
|-
|-
|Eis. = Eisenbahn
|Eis. = Eisenbahn
Line 1,830: Line 1,858:
|Einbürgerung
|Einbürgerung
|naturalization
|naturalization
|-
|Einhäusling, Gesinde, Taglöhner
|day laborer
|-
|-
|Einlieger
|Einlieger
Line 1,947: Line 1,978:
|erstgeboren
|erstgeboren
|firstborn
|firstborn
|-
|Erstkommunikant
|someone receiving First Communion for the first time
|-
|-
|ertrank, ertrunken
|ertrank, ertrunken
Line 1,978: Line 2,012:
|Fabrikant
|Fabrikant
|manufacturer
|manufacturer
|-
|Fabrikarbeiter
|factory worker
|-
|-
|Fallkind
|Fallkind
|illegitimate child
|illegitimate childen
|-
|Familiant
|entailed renter of a house (inheriting cottagers) or head of the family (Jewish)
|-
|-
|Familie
|Familie
Line 2,115: Line 2,155:
|-
|-
|Fuhrmann
|Fuhrmann
|waggoner
|wagoner
|-
|-
|fünfte
|fünfte
Line 2,258: Line 2,298:
|Genealogie
|Genealogie
|genealogy
|genealogy
|-
|genesen
|delivered (of a child)
|-
|-
|Gerber
|Gerber
Line 2,348: Line 2,391:
|Gilde
|Gilde
|guild
|guild
|-
|Glaser
|glazier
|-
|Glasermeister
|master glazier
|-
|-
|Glaube
|Glaube
Line 2,430: Line 2,479:
|Herrsch. = Herrschaft
|Herrsch. = Herrschaft
|manor, estate, domain
|manor, estate, domain
|-
|herrschaftl. = herrschaftlich
|(adj.) pertaining to the manor, estate, or domain (feudal Familiant)
|-
|-
|Hessen-N. = Hessen-Nassau
|Hessen-N. = Hessen-Nassau
Line 2,494: Line 2,546:
|home, native place, homeland
|home, native place, homeland
|-
|-
|Heimatschein
|Heimatschein, hmtsch
|domicile or residency certificate
|domicile or residency certificate
|-
|-
Line 2,541: Line 2,593:
|Herrschaft
|Herrschaft
|estate, dominion
|estate, dominion
|-
|herrschaftlich
|(adj.) pertaining to the manor, estate, or domain (feudal Familiant)
|-
|-
|Herzog
|Herzog
Line 2,568: Line 2,623:
|hiesiger Ort
|hiesiger Ort
|this place
|this place
|-
|Hilfsbahnwärter
|railway linesman assistant, assistant signalman
|-
|-
|Hinterbliebene
|Hinterbliebene
Line 2,595: Line 2,653:
|Holländer
|Holländer
|Dutchman, dairykeeper
|Dutchman, dairykeeper
|-
|Hollandgänger
|seasonal migrant worker from Germany working in the Netherlands
|-
|-
|Hornung
|Hornung
Line 2,650: Line 2,711:
|Innung
|Innung
|guild
|guild
|-
|Inspektor
|inspector
|-
|-
|Instmann
|Instmann
Line 2,656: Line 2,720:
|ist
|ist
|is
|is
|-
|itzo, itzt, itzund, jetzt, jetzo, jetzund
|now
|}
|}


Line 2,732: Line 2,799:
|Jüngling
|Jüngling
|bachelor, young man
|bachelor, young man
|-
|jüngsthin
|recently (such as the last/recently passed month)
|-
|-
|Juni
|Juni
Line 2,772: Line 2,842:
|Kartei
|Kartei
|card index
|card index
|-
|Kassierer
|cashier, collector
|-
|-
|Kathenmann, Katenmann
|Kathenmann, Katenmann
Line 2,841: Line 2,914:
|Kirchenvorsteher
|Kirchenvorsteher
|churchwarden
|churchwarden
|-
|Kirchhöre
|church parish
|-
|-
|kirchlich
|kirchlich
Line 2,862: Line 2,938:
|Knecht
|Knecht
|servant
|servant
|-
|Köbler (used in Franken and Oberpfalz, Bayern)
|cottager
|-
|-
|Kolonist
|Kolonist
Line 2,874: Line 2,953:
|Konfirmation
|Konfirmation
|confirmation
|confirmation
|-
|Konditormeister
|master cake-maker
|-
|Konfitenten
|confessants
|-
|-
|König
|König
Line 2,910: Line 2,995:
|Krankheit
|Krankheit
|disease, sickness
|disease, sickness
|-
|Krankheit oder andere Todesart
|cause of death (in a heading)
|-
|Krankheit und Todesart nach Ausweis der Todtenbeschau
|cause of death (in a heading)
|-
|Krankheit oder Todesursache nach Ausweis der Todtenbeschau
|cause of death (in a heading)
|-
|-
|Krebs
|Krebs
Line 2,937: Line 3,031:
|Kusine
|Kusine
|female cousin
|female cousin
|-
|Küster
|sexton
|-
|-
|Kutscher
|Kutscher
Line 3,007: Line 3,104:
|links
|links
|left
|left
|-
|Lippische Ziegler
|migrant bricklayers from the Principality of Lippe working in Germany, Brandenburg, the Netherlands, or Denmark
|-
|lohgerbermeister
|master tanner
|-
|-
|Lungenentzündung
|Lungenentzündung
Line 3,018: Line 3,121:
|}
|}


{{CompactTOC8|name=Words starting with|center=no|side=yes|y=}}  
{{CompactTOC8|name=Words starting with|center=no|side=yes|y=}}


===M===
===M===
Line 3,026: Line 3,129:
| width="25%" |'''German'''
| width="25%" |'''German'''
|'''English'''
|'''English'''
|-
|mannschaftl. = mannschaftlich
|(adj.) pertaining to a group of men (Jewish Familiant, especially used in Moravia)
|-
|-
|Mädchen
|Mädchen
Line 3,050: Line 3,156:
|männlich
|männlich
|male
|male
|-
|mannschaftlich
|(adj.) pertaining to a group of men (Jewish Familiant, especially used in Moravia)
|-
|-
|Mariengroschen, Mgr.
|Mariengroschen, Mgr.
Line 3,065: Line 3,174:
|Matrikel
|Matrikel
|register
|register
|-
|Matrose
|Bluejacket, Sailor
|-
|-
|Maurer
|Maurer
Line 3,078: Line 3,190:
|Mennonites
|Mennonites
|-
|-
|Metzger
|Messerschmied
|cutler, knifesmith
|-
|Metzger, Mezger
|butcher
|butcher
|-
|-
Line 3,128: Line 3,243:
|Mühle
|Mühle
|mill
|mill
|-
|Mühlerbesitzer
|mill owner
|-
|-
|Mühlenpächter
|Mühlenpächter
Line 3,186: Line 3,304:
|Name
|Name
|name
|name
|-
|Namensfertiger, Nftgr.
|person who signs for illiterate people
|-
|-
|nat. = natus, nata
|nat. = natus, nata
Line 3,203: Line 3,324:
|-
|-
|nemlich
|nemlich
|namely, same, by name
|namely, same, by name (variant of nämlich)
|-
|-
|Nervenfieber
|Nervenfieber
|nervous fever
|nervous fever, nerve fever, sometimes means typhus
|-
|-
|neu
|neu
Line 3,281: Line 3,402:
|}
|}


{{CompactTOC8|name=Words starting with|center=no|side=yes|y=}}  
{{CompactTOC8|name=Words starting with|center=no|side=yes|y=}}


===O===
===O===
Line 3,301: Line 3,422:
|Oberamt
|Oberamt
|governing district office
|governing district office
|-
|Oberpostamtmann
|Head postmaster (or Chief Postoffice officer)
|-
|-
|oder
|oder
Line 3,311: Line 3,435:
|often
|often
|-
|-
|Oheim
|Oheim, Ohm
|uncle
|maternal uncle
|-
|-
|ohne
|ohne
Line 3,389: Line 3,513:
|Pfarrer
|Pfarrer
|parish minister, pastor
|parish minister, pastor
|-
|Pfarrverweser
|curate in charge of the church parish
|-
|-
|Pfingsten
|Pfingsten
Line 3,401: Line 3,528:
|Pflegetochter
|Pflegetochter
|foster daughter
|foster daughter
|-
|Pfleggericht
|district court, local court (older form of Amtsgericht)
|-
|Plätterin
|ironer
|-
|-
|Platz
|Platz
Line 3,450: Line 3,583:
|Räbbe
|Räbbe
|rabies
|rabies
|-
|Rabbiner
|rabbi
|-
|-
|Räcke
|Räcke
Line 3,537: Line 3,673:
|Rotgerber
|Rotgerber
|red tanner
|red tanner
|-
|Rotsucht, Rothsucht
|rubeola, measles
|-
|-
|Ruhestand
|Ruhestand
Line 3,781: Line 3,920:
|-
|-
|Schriftsetzer
|Schriftsetzer
|typesetter
|typesetter, typographer
|-
|-
|Schroder, Schröder
|Schroder, Schröder
Line 3,815: Line 3,954:
|Schuster
|Schuster
|shoemaker, cobbler
|shoemaker, cobbler
|-
|Schutzmann
|policeman
|-
|-
|Schuwarte
|Schuwarte
Line 4,025: Line 4,167:
|Soldat
|Soldat
|soldier
|soldier
|-
|Sölde
|plot of land
|-
|-
|Söldner
|Söldner
|mercenary soldier; day laborer
|mercenary soldier, day laborer, or farmer
|-
|-
|sollen
|sollen
Line 4,081: Line 4,226:
|-
|-
|Stellmacher
|Stellmacher
|wheelwright
|wheelwright, cartwright (a craftsman who builds or repairs wooden wheels.)
|-
|-
|Sterbefälle
|Sterbefälle
Line 4,149: Line 4,294:
|day
|day
|-
|-
|Tagelöhner
|Tagelöhner, Taglöhner
|day laborer
|day laborer
|-
|-
Line 4,193: Line 4,338:
|tausend
|tausend
|thousand
|thousand
|-
|Telegraphenberwerkmeister
|senior Telegraph foreman
|-
|-
|Testament
|Testament
Line 4,644: Line 4,792:
|-
|-
|Wirt
|Wirt
|innkeeper
|innkeeper or owner of a pub, tavern, restaurant, inn
|-
|-
|Wittib
|Wittib
Line 4,716: Line 4,864:
|'''English'''
|'''English'''
|-
|-
|Xber,&nbsp;Xbris
|Xber, Xbris
|December
|December
|}
|}
Line 4,793: Line 4,941:
|-
|-
|zuständig nach, heimatberechtigt in, ansässig in
|zuständig nach, heimatberechtigt in, ansässig in
|entitled to reside in/home rights in (a place)
|entitled to reside in/home rights in (a place), residing in, resident of
|-
|Zuständigkeitsort
|place of jurisdiction
|-
|-
|zwanzig
|zwanzig
Mckennacooper
Reviewer, editor, pagecreator
992

edits

Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/5021571...6144946"