Germany Languages

Most materials used in German research are written in German. However, you do not need to speak or read German to do research in German records. You will need to know some key words and phrases to understand the records.

Because of Germany's history, you may also find several other languages in German records. Latin was frequently used in Roman Catholic church records. French was often used in Elsaß-Lothringen and during the French domination of the area west of the Rhein river (1806-1815). Danish was used in much of Schleswig-Holsteinuntil Preußen annexed that area in 1864.

German grammar may affect the way names appear in genealogical records, so your ancestor's name in German may vary from record to record. For help in understanding name variations, see the “Names, Personal” section.

Language Aids
The Family History Library has genealogical word lists for German, Latin, French, Danish, and Polish. The German Genealogical Word List includes symbols commonly used in German genealogical sources. For more information about reading German writing, see the “Handwriting” section.

The following books and English-German dictionaries can help in your research. You can find these and similar materials at many research libraries.

Thode, Ernest. German-English Genealogical Dictionary. Baltimore, Maryland, USA: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1992. (FHL book 433.21 T352g 1992.)

Langenscheidts German-English, English-German Dictionary = Langenscheidts Deutsch-Englisches, Englisch-Deutches Wörterbuch. New York, NY, USA: Pocket Books, 1952, 1993. (FHL book 433.21 L262g.)

Other language aids, including dictionaries of various dialects and time periods, are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:


 * GERMANY - LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES


 * GERMANY - LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES - DICTIONARIES

Also check the Subject Search of the catalog under:


 * GERMAN LANGUAGE - DICTIONARIES

General Word List
== ab from, since Abend evening abends in the evening aber but abgestorben deceased absterben to die, to die off acht eight achte eighth achtundzwanzigste twenty-eighth achtzehn eighteen achtzehnhundert eighteen hundred achtzehnte eighteenth achtzig eighty achtzigste eightieth Ackermann farmer Adel gentry, nobleman a.D. = außer Dienst formerly employed, retired adoptiert adopted Ahnen ancestors Ahnentafel pedigree chart Akten documents alle all allhier in this place alt old Altbürger full citizen Alter age Altersschwäche weakness of old age ältest eldest alt-katholisch old Catholic Amman bailiff, magistrate Amt office, district Anbauer peasant andere other, next Angeber informant angeblich alleged, assumed Anmerkungen remarks Anspänner farmer apostolisch Apostolic April April Arbeiter laborer, worker Archiv archive arm poor Armut poverty Arzt physician auch also, too auf on, upon, at aufbieten post banns Aufenthaltserlaubnis residence permit Aufenthaltsort residence Aufgebot publication of banns August August aus from, out of außen outside äußere outside, outward, external außerehelich illegitimate Auswanderer emigrant Auswanderung emigration Auszehrung consumption or emaciation (especially from TB) Auszug extract

Return to top of page

==