A2 adjective #2,000 am häufigsten 3 Min. Lesezeit

légal(e)

Erklärung von légal(e) auf deinem Niveau:

Légal means allowed. If you do something légal, you follow the rules. If you do something illegal, you break the rules. It is a very important word for everyone to know.

When you are in a new country, you want to know what is légal. For example, it is légal to walk on the sidewalk, but it is not légal to walk on the highway. We use this word to talk about rules and laws in our everyday life.

The word légal helps us describe actions that are permitted. In business or school, you might need to sign a legal document. This is a paper that proves you are following the rules. Always check if your actions are légal to avoid trouble.

In professional contexts, légal refers to compliance with statutes. You might hear people discuss legal proceedings or legal counsel. It is a neutral term, but it carries significant weight when discussing rights, responsibilities, and the framework of society.

Beyond simple permission, légal often touches on the legitimacy of an act. In academic or political discourse, one might question whether a policy is légal under international law. It implies a formal validation by a governing body, distinguishing it from mere moral or social acceptance.

The term légal embodies the tension between strict adherence to the letter of the law and the spirit of justice. In literary or philosophical analysis, the word can be used to critique the limitations of the law itself. It bridges the gap between codified statutes and the practical realities of human conduct, serving as a pillar of jurisprudence.

légal(e) in 30 Sekunden

  • Means permitted by law.
  • Used as an adjective.
  • Opposite of illegal.
  • Root is Latin 'lex'.

When we say something is légal, we mean it follows the rules set by the government or an authority. Think of it as the green light in society. If you have a legal right to do something, it means the law protects your ability to do that action.

It is important to remember that légal is not just about big court cases. It is used every day. For example, parking in a marked spot is légal, while parking in front of a fire hydrant is not. Understanding this word helps you navigate the rules of your community with confidence.

The word légal comes directly from the Latin word legalis, which means 'pertaining to the law.' This Latin root is derived from lex, meaning 'law.' It is fascinating how this word has traveled through history to become a cornerstone of modern language.

Over centuries, the word evolved through Old French before settling into the form we use today. It is a cognate across many Romance languages, meaning you will find similar versions in Spanish (legal) and Italian (legale). It reflects the human need to organize society through shared, written agreements.

You will hear légal in both formal and informal settings. In business, you might hear about legal advice or legal documents. In casual conversation, you might simply ask, 'Is this légal?' when you are unsure if a specific action is allowed.

Common collocations include legal system, legal action, and legal requirement. It is a very versatile word that acts as a gatekeeper for what is permissible in a professional or social environment.

1. Legal tender: Money that must be accepted for payment by law. Example: The coins are legal tender in this country.

2. Legal eagle: A slang term for a clever lawyer. Example: She hired a real legal eagle for her case.

3. Legal loophole: A technicality that allows someone to avoid a rule. Example: They found a legal loophole to pay less tax.

4. Legal age: The age at which you are considered an adult. Example: You must be the legal age to vote.

5. Legal battle: A long, difficult argument in court. Example: They have been in a legal battle for years.

In French, légal is an adjective that changes to légale in the feminine form. The plural forms are légaux (masculine) and légales (feminine). It is a straightforward adjective that usually follows the noun it describes.

Pronunciation is quite consistent: /le.ɡal/. The stress is usually on the second syllable. Rhyming words include égal, gale, and bal. Pay attention to the clear 'l' sounds at the beginning and end of the word.

Wusstest du?

The root 'lex' is also the source of the word 'legislature'.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ˈliː.ɡəl/

Sounds like 'lee-gull'

US /ˈliː.ɡəl/

Sounds like 'lee-gull'

Häufige Fehler

  • Softening the 'g'
  • Dropping the final 'l'
  • Misplacing the stress

Reimt sich auf

regal eagle beagle legal segal

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 1/5

Easy to read

Schreiben 2/5

Requires care with spelling

Sprechen 1/5

Easy to pronounce

Hören 1/5

Clear sounds

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

rule law right

Als Nächstes lernen

legality legalize legislation

Fortgeschritten

jurisprudence statutory litigation

Wichtige Grammatik

Adjective Agreement

Légal -> Légale

Sentence Structure

It is + adj

Negative Forms

It is not + adj

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

It is legal.

C'est légal.

Simple adjective usage

2

Is it legal?

Est-ce légal ?

Question form

3

This is legal.

Ceci est légal.

Demonstrative pronoun

4

The action is legal.

L'action est légale.

Feminine agreement

5

It is not legal.

Ce n'est pas légal.

Negative structure

6

They are legal.

Ils sont légaux.

Plural agreement

7

Is this legal here?

Est-ce légal ici ?

Adverb of place

8

We need legal help.

Nous avons besoin d'aide légale.

Noun modification

1

It is a legal requirement.

2

He provides legal advice.

3

The contract is legal.

4

She is a legal expert.

5

They signed a legal paper.

6

That is a legal matter.

7

The legal age is eighteen.

8

It is a legal process.

1

The company faces legal action.

2

We need to check the legal status.

3

He is seeking legal counsel.

4

The document has no legal standing.

5

It is a legal obligation for all.

6

They are involved in a legal dispute.

7

The legal framework is complex.

8

She works in the legal department.

1

The policy is technically legal but unethical.

2

They are challenging the decision through legal channels.

3

We must ensure full legal compliance.

4

The legal implications are significant.

5

He is an expert in international legal affairs.

6

The legal system is under review.

7

They reached a legal settlement.

8

The contract is binding and legal.

1

The legitimacy of the act remains a legal gray area.

2

He argued that the decree was not legally binding.

3

The firm provides comprehensive legal representation.

4

Her actions were found to be within legal bounds.

5

The legal precedent was set decades ago.

6

They are navigating a complex legal landscape.

7

The court scrutinized the legal validity of the claim.

8

It is a matter of legal interpretation.

1

The legalistic approach often ignores the spirit of the law.

2

The legal architecture of the state is evolving.

3

His interpretation of the legal statutes was profound.

4

The legal ramifications are far-reaching.

5

The case hinges on a subtle legal technicality.

6

They debated the legal foundations of the constitution.

7

The legal apparatus is designed to protect rights.

8

It represents a significant shift in legal doctrine.

Häufige Kollokationen

legal advice
legal action
legal system
legal requirement
legal document
legal age
legal battle
legal counsel
legal tender
legal status

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Legal eagle"

A clever lawyer.

She is a real legal eagle.

casual

"Legal loophole"

A way to avoid a rule.

They found a legal loophole.

neutral

"Legal tender"

Official money.

This coin is legal tender.

formal

"Legal battle"

A fight in court.

They are in a legal battle.

neutral

"Legal aid"

Free or cheap help.

He applied for legal aid.

formal

"Legal precedent"

A past case that guides future ones.

This sets a legal precedent.

formal

Leicht verwechselbar

légal(e) vs. Legible

Similar spelling

Legible = easy to read

Your writing is not legible.

légal(e) vs. Legislative

Same root

Legislative = related to making laws

The legislative branch.

légal(e) vs. Legitimate

Starts with 'leg'

Legitimate = valid or fair

A legitimate reason.

légal(e) vs. Illegal

Antonym

Illegal = not allowed

That is illegal.

Satzmuster

A1

It is legal to + verb

It is legal to drive here.

A2

This is a legal + noun

This is a legal document.

A1

Subject + is + legal

The action is legal.

B1

Seek + legal + noun

Seek legal advice.

C1

Within + legal + bounds

It is within legal bounds.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

légalité Legality

Verben

légaliser To legalize

Adjektive

illégal Illegal

Verwandt

loi The root noun

So verwendest du es

frequency

9

Förmlichkeitsskala

Statutory (most formal) Legal (neutral) Allowed (casual) Okay (slang)

Tipps

💡

Memory Palace Trick

Imagine a judge standing on a giant 'L'.
💡

When Native Speakers Use It

When signing contracts or discussing rules.
🌍

Cultural Insight

In Western culture, 'legal' is the gold standard for truth.
💡

Grammar Shortcut

It usually comes before the noun it describes.
💡

Say It Right

Focus on the clear 'l' sounds.
💡

Don't Make This Mistake

Don't confuse it with 'legible'.
💡

Did You Know?

The word is almost the same in many languages.
💡

Study Smart

Use it in a sentence about your daily life.
💡

Formal vs Informal

Use 'legal' in formal settings, 'allowed' in casual ones.
💡

Vowel Sounds

The 'e' is long like 'tree'.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Legal starts with L like Law.

Visuelle Assoziation

A judge's gavel.

Word Web

court judge law rules police

Herausforderung

Write three things that are legal in your house.

Wortherkunft

Latin

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Pertaining to the law

Kultureller Kontext

None

Used heavily in media and government.

Legally Blonde (movie) Law & Order (TV show)

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

at work

  • legal department
  • legal review
  • legal contract

at school

  • legal age
  • legal rights
  • legal status

traveling

  • legal documents
  • legal entry
  • legal tender

court

  • legal battle
  • legal counsel
  • legal precedent

Gesprächseinstiege

"What do you think is a strange legal rule?"

"Have you ever needed legal advice?"

"Is it important to know the legal age for everything?"

"Why do we need a legal system?"

"What is the most important legal right in your country?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Write about a time you had to follow a strict rule.

If you could change one legal rule, what would it be?

Why is it important for a society to be legal?

Describe what 'legal' means to you in your own words.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

8 Fragen
No, it is an adjective.
Add an 'e' to get 'légale'.
Yes, it is the same word.
Legality.
You can say 'legal age' for people, but not 'a legal person' usually.
Yes, very common.
Not always; something can be legal but immoral.
Lee-gull.

Teste dich selbst

fill blank A1

It is ___ to park here.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: legal

Legal describes the permission to park.

multiple choice A2

Which word means the opposite of legal?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: illegal

Illegal is the direct antonym.

true false B1

A legal document is a paper with no rules.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Falsch

Legal documents are defined by rules.

match pairs B1

Word

Bedeutung

Alles zugeordnet!

Matching synonyms and antonyms.

sentence order B2

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:

Correct structure is 'Is this action legal?'

fill blank B2

We need to ensure ___ compliance.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: legal

Legal compliance is a standard phrase.

true false C1

Legalistic means following the law in a very strict way.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Richtig

Yes, it often implies being overly technical.

multiple choice C1

What is the adverb form of legal?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: legally

Legally is the adverb.

match pairs C2

Word

Bedeutung

Alles zugeordnet!

Advanced vocabulary matching.

sentence order C2

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:

Standard formal sentence structure.

Ergebnis: /10

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