Vocabulary
der
Adel
/ˈaːdl̩/· noun· Pl. —
nobility, aristocracy; (elevated) nobility of character
Der Adel — the noble families with titles like Graf or Freiherr; Austria abolished noble titles by law in 1919, while in Germany they became part of the surname.
CEFR C1Frequency ●●●●●
Your memory
New
Learning
Familiar
Strong
Mastered
Forms
- Singular
- der Adel
- Plural
- —
- Genitiv
- des Adels
One word, many lives
Tap a meaning. Real German isn't a dictionary translation.
Adel
nobility as a social class
Bis 1918 besetzte der Adel die meisten hohen Posten in Armee und Verwaltung.
Until 1918 the nobility held most of the senior posts in the army and the administration.
Word family
Adeladlignoble, aristocraticder/die Adligenobleman, noblewomander Adelstiteltitle of nobilityder Hochadelhigh nobility
Common combinations
- aus altem Adel stammento come from an old noble family
- den Adel abschaffento abolish the nobility
- der niedere Adelthe lesser nobility
- Adel verpflichtetnoblesse oblige
Common learner mistakes
- die Adel / die Adelsder Adel; einzelne Personen: die AdligenAdel is masculine and has no plural; for individual nobles say der/die Adlige, die Adligen.
Real examples
- In Österreich wurde der Adel 1919 per Gesetz abgeschafft.In Austria the nobility was abolished by law in 1919.
- Die Familie stammt aus altem Adel, besitzt aber längst kein Schloss mehr.The family comes from old nobility but has not owned a castle for a long time.
- Die Privilegien des Adels wurden im Zuge der Revolution Schritt für Schritt beseitigt.The privileges of the nobility were removed step by step in the course of the revolution.
