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Dictionary of German Words and Phrases

This list contains German words with their English translations.  The words included here are those that one is likely to find in a genealogical or historical document or record.  If the word you are looking for is not on this list, please consult a German-English dictionary.

German is spoken throughout Germany.  However, several dialects can be heard such as in the province of Westphalia and in areas that border the Netherlands where the German language has taken on many characteristics of the Dutch language.  German is also spoken in areas where there are large centres of German immigrants such as in Switzerland and Austria and in parts of Poland, Denmark, Luxembourg, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Like most other languages, German spelling was not standardized in earlier centuries.  Clerks, in their written records, spelled words based upon the way a word sounded and also in accordance with the level of their own understanding of language as gained through their education.  Variations between the old-style and modern-style of spelling words are common. As well, local dialect often affected the spelling in genealogical records.

Furthermore, the German language uses the umlaut placed over the vowels a, o, and u (ä  ö  ü) to signify a change in the pronunciation of a word.  More importantly, however, is the fact that, in strict alphabetical sequence, those same three letters, with umlaut, are alphabetized as if they were ae, oe and ue, respectively.  Similarly, the ß is alphabetized as being a double 's', that is, 'ss'.

English has a number of words taken directly from German - kindergarten and poodle, sauerkraut, plunder and yodel.  German speech varies considerably from place to place but two main speech regions can be identified:  the 'Plattdeutsch' (flat or 'low' German) spoken in the flat northern plains and the 'Hochdeutsch' ('high' German) spoken in the higher or mountainous regions of central and southern Germany.  All printed language, however, is based on 'high' German.

abends	in the evening
Abgangsprotokolle	military discharge books
Abhandlungsakten über Hausbesitz	house records
abschrift, umschrift	transcript
Abstammungskartei von Personen jüdischer Abstammung	pedigrees of Austrians with Jewish blood
abstrakt, auszug	abstract
Adressbücher	City directory
alt	old
Alter, Zeitalter	age
Amtsverwalte	executor
Anschrift	address
anweisen, zuweisen	assign
Anwesen	homestead
anwesend, anwesenheit	before, in the presence of
April, Ostermonat, Osteren	April
Arbeitsbuch-Protokolle	labour book registration
Armen- und Versorgungshäuser	poorhouse records
armselig, dürftig	pauper, poor
auf Leberszeit, lebenslänglich	for life
Aufgebot	banns
August, Erntemonat, Hitzmonat	August
ausdenken	devise
ausführen, Ausführung	completed, made, executed
Ausgabe, Geldausgabe, unkosten	expenses
auslösen, freilassung	release
Auswanderer	emigrant
Auswanderer listen	emigration lists
Auswanderungregister	emigration list
auszug	extract
Bauer	farmer
bauernhof	farm
begraben, beerdigen	bury
Beruf	occupation
Bescheinigung, Attest, Urkunde, Schein	certificate
Besitz, Grundbesitz	estate
Bestallungen	military commissions
bestätigen	attest
Bestands	inventory
bestätigen	probate
Bestimmungsort	destination
bewegliches Eigentum	moveable property
Bewertung, Schätzungswert	valuation
Bewilligungen	grant
Bewohner, Einwohner	inhabitant
Bezirk	a district
Bezirksgerichte	district court
Bibliotheken	library
Bistum	diocese
Bistumarchiv	Bishop's archive
Bittschrift	petition
Bräutigam, Neuvermähtte	groom
Braut, Neuvermähtle	bride
Bruder	brother
Bürger, Städter	citizen
Bürgerfür	sponsors
Bürger Kataster	land and property registers
Bürgerbücher	citizens' lists
Datum	date
Deutsche Geschlechterbücher	German lineage books containing details of descent of middle and lower upper class German families
Dezember, Christmonat Abbreviated as 10ber, 10bris, Xber or Xbris	December
Diener, Dienstbote Dienstmädchen	servant
Dienstag	Tuesday
Diözesanarchiv	diocesan archive
Donnerstag	Thursday
Eheakten	marriage deed
Eheverträge Verlassenschaften	marriage contract
eidesstattliche Versicherungen	affidavit
Einnahme bücher	church receipt books
Eintragung, Anmeldung	registration
Einwohnerlisten	movement registration
Einwohnermelderegister	police registration
Eltern	parents
Enkel	grandson
Enkel	grandchild
Enkelin	granddaughter
er, sie	he, she
Erbe	heir, heiress
Erbe, Erbschoft	inheritance
Erben	legatee
erben	inherit
erblich	hereditary
Erbverträge	inheritance contract
Ernte, Ertrag	harvest
Erwachsen, Erwachsene	adult
Fall	fall
Familienname, Zuname	surname
Familienregister	family register, often found as part of church registers
Familienstand	marital status
Familienverbände	genealogical organization
Fastenzeit	Lent
Februar, Hornung	February
Feld	field
Findelbücher	Foundling books
Fischer	fisherman
früher	formerly
Frau, Gattin	wife
freier, bauer	yeoman
Freilassung, Befreiung	release
Freitag	Friday
früh	early (a.m.)
Gebären, Geboren	born
Geburt	birth
Geburtsbrief	certificate of birth
Geburtsdatam	date of birth
Geburtsort	birthplace
Geburtszeugnis	certificate of birth
Geld	money
Geldanlage	investment
Gerät, Weurzeug	tools
Gerichtshof	court
Gerichtsprotokolle	court records
Geschwister	siblings
gesichertes	escrow
gestern	yesterday
Gewährleister	grantor
Gewerbe	occupation
Gilderbücher	trade guild records
Gott	God
Grab	grave
Grabregister	grave register
Grabstein	tombstone
Großeltern	grandparents
Großmutter	grandmother
Großvater	grandfather
Grundbesitz	real property
grundbesitzer	landowner
Grundbücher	land records
Grundpächter	landholder
Hausangestellte, Diener, Dienstbote Dienstmädchen	servant
Heim	home
Heimfälle	escheat
heiraten, trauen	to marry or get married
Heimatscheinlisten	certificates of domicile
Herkunftsort	place of origin
Herrschaftsarchiv	landlord archive
heute	today
Hütte, Kleines, Wohnhaus, Landhaus	cottage
Hypothek	mortgage
Hypothekenschuldner, Hypothekengläubiger	mortgagor, mortgagee
ihrer	their
Intestaterben	intestate
jähr	year
jahrig	years-old
Januar, Jänner, Jenner	January
jüdisch, Jude	Jewish
Jugendliche	adolescent
Juli, Heuert, Heumonat, Heuet	July
Juni, Brachmonat	June
Kapelle, Kirche	chapel, church
katholisch	Catholic
Kaufbücher	land records
Kaufmann	merchant
Kind, Kinder	child, children
Kirchenbücher	church register
kirchenvorsteher	Churchwarden
Kirchspiel	parish
Kleinbauer	crofter
kleinkind	infant
Kodizille	codicil
Konfirmation	confirmation
Konfirmation bücher	church confirmation records
Konskriptionsregister	military conscription list
Kopie, Manuskript	copy of
Kriegslisten	military records
Kropf	crops
Land	a province
Landedelmann, Großgrundbesitzer	esquire
landen	land
Länder	province or state
Länderbesitzdauer	land tenure
Landesarchiv	provincial archive
Landkarte	map
Landwirtschaft	husbandry
Ledig	single
Lehenbücher	feudal tenure books
Lehrlingsbücher	apprentice list
Leichenpredigten	funeral sermons
Mädchenname	maiden surname
Magistratisches Zivilgericht	Magistrates' court
Mai, Wonnemonat, Blütemonat	May
Mann, Gatte	husband
Männlich, Mann	male
März, Frühlingsmonat	March
Mieter	tenant
Mietwohnungen	tenement
militärisch	military
minderjahrig, moll	minor (one being under the age of majority)
Minute	minute
mittags	at noon
mitternachts	at midnight
Mittwoch	Wednesday
Monat	month
Montag	Monday
morgen	acre
morgen	tomorrow
mündig	of full age of majority
Musterunglisten	muster roll
Mutter	mother
Nachfolger	successor
nachmittags	in the afternoon
nächster Angehöriger	next of kin
Namen	name
Nationalität	nationality
Neffe	nephew
Nichte	niece
November, Wintermonat Abbreviated as 9ber or 9bris
Nutzen, Profit	profit
Nutznießer	beneficiary
Obligation	bond (financial or monetary in nature)
Oktober, Weinmonat Abbreviated as 8ber or 8bris	October
Onkel	uncle
Ort	place
Ortssippenbücher	a register or book of past and present families from a particular locale
Ortsverzeichnis	gazetteer
Ostern, Oster	Easter
Pacht, Miete, Vertrag	lease
Passkontrollen	Internal passport
Paten	godparents
Patenkind	godchild
Personenstandsgesetz	census returns
persönlich	personal property
Pfarr Register	church register
Pfarrarchiv	church archive
Pfarrer	parish priest
Pfarrgemeinde, Kirchengemeinde	parish
Pflug, Pflugen	ploughing
Polizeiregister	police register
Rathaus	city or town hall
reformiert	Reformed
Regierungsgebaude	government office
Register	parish register
Reichspersonenstandsgesetz	civil registration
Reihenfolgen	succession
Samstag, Sonnabend	Saturday
Schwager, Schwägerin	brother-in-law, sister-in-law
Schwester	sister
Schwiegermutter	mother in law
Schwiegervater	father-in-law
seinen, ihre	his, her
September, Fruchtmonat, Herbstmonat, Herpsten Abbreviated as 7ber or 7bris	September
sie	they
Siedler	colonist, settler
Sohn	son
Sommer	summer
Sonderstandesamter	special registers
Sonntag	Sunday
spät	late (p.m.)
Sprung	spring
Staatsarchiv	State archives
staatsangehörigkeit	citizenship
Stadtarchiv	city archive
Stadtchroniken	city chronicles
Standesamt Register	civil registration of births, marriages and deaths
Standesser	registry office
Steifvater	stepfather
Stellungslisten	enlistment orders
sterben, umkommen	to die
Steuer, Abgabe	tax
Steuerbücher	tax rolls
Steuerecklärung	tax return
Stiefbruder, Steifschwest	step-brother, step-sister
Stiefmutter	stepmother
Straße	street, road
Stunde, Uhr	hour
Tag	day
Tagelöhner	day labourer
täglich	daily or every day
Tante	aunt
Tat, Heldentat, Urkunde	deed
Taufe	baptism, christening
Taufen	baptize, christen
Testamente	Will
Tochter	daughter
Todesanzeige, Nachruf	obituary
tot geboren	stillborn
Toten	burial
Trauer, Begräbnis, Beerdigung	funeral
Trauungen	marriage
überbringen Eigentum	to convey (property)
ubergeben, Kapitulieren	surrender
übermorgen	day after tomorrow
U-Bootemieter	sub-tenant
unglückes	misfortune
Universitätsmatrikeln	university registers
unleserlich	illegitimate
Urgroßmütter	great-grandmother
Urgroßväter	great-grandfather
Vater	father
Verfachbücher	court records
Verheiraten	married
Vermächtnis	bequest, legacy
Vermieter, Mieter	lessor, lessee
Verwalter	administrator
Verwaltung, Regäerung	administration
verzeichnis	parish register
Vetter, Cousin(e)	cousin
vieh	livestock
Volkszählungen	census
Volkszählunglisten	census
vormittags	in the forenoon
Vormund	guardian
Vorname	given name
waise	orphan
Waisenbücher	orphan's list
Weiblich, Weibchen	female
Weiden	pasture
Weihnachten	Christmas
Wien	Vienna
Wille, Testament	Will
Winter	winter
woche	week
Wohin	destination
Zahlung, Einzahlung, auszahlung, Bezahlung	payment
Zeiger, Verzeichnis	index
Zeit, Takt	time
Zeitungen	newspaper
Zensus	census
Zentralstelle für Genealogie	the Central Office for Genealogy, formerly a department of the East German government but now continued as part of the National Archive system of Germany with emphasis remaining on east German lineage
zeuge, Beweis	witnesses
zeugenaussage, zeugnis	testmony, evidence
Zufall, unglücksfall	accident
Zunftbücher	guild records of trade guilds
Zurname	surname
zwei Jahre	2 years
zwei Zeiten pro Jahr	2 times per year
Zweite	second