Cette page dans ta langue

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

B1 adjective #6,500 le plus courant 9 min de lecture

gebürtig

Top 6,500

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces gebürtig en 30 secondes

Explication gebürtig in your Level:

At the A1 level, the word 'gebürtig' might be a bit advanced, but it is useful to recognize. At this stage, you usually learn 'Ich komme aus...' to say where you are from. However, if you see 'gebürtig' in a text, just remember it means 'born in'. Think of it as a special adjective for your birthplace. You don't need to use it in every sentence, but knowing that 'eine gebürtige Berlinerin' is a woman born in Berlin will help you understand personal descriptions. It is a 'bonus' word that makes your German sound more natural when you are introducing yourself or others in a slightly more formal way. Focus on the fact that it ends in '-e' for women and '-er' for men when used with 'ein' or 'eine'.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

By A2, you are expanding your ability to describe people and their backgrounds. 'Gebürtig' is a great addition to your vocabulary because it allows you to distinguish between where someone lives and where they were born. In A2, you should practice using it with the verb 'sein'. For example: 'Mein Freund ist gebürtig aus Italien.' This is a simple structure that you can easily master. You will also start to notice it in short biographies or on social media profiles. It is a more precise word than 'kommen aus' because 'kommen aus' can sometimes mean you just moved from there recently, while 'gebürtig' always refers to your actual birth. Try to use it once or twice in your next writing exercise about your family history.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the B1 level, you are expected to use 'gebürtig' correctly in both speech and writing. This is the level where you should focus on the correct adjective endings (declension). You should be able to say 'Er ist ein gebürtiger Münchner' or 'Sie ist eine gebürtige Wienerin' without hesitation. You should also understand that 'gebürtig' is often used to provide context in more complex stories. For example, 'Die gebürtige Russin hat in Deutschland Karriere gemacht.' Here, the word helps explain the person's journey. You should also be aware of the common prepositions used with it, mainly 'aus'. At B1, 'gebürtig' helps you move away from repetitive sentence structures and adds a touch of sophistication to your German.

At the B2 level, 'gebürtig' should be a natural part of your vocabulary. You should be able to use it in more formal contexts, such as in a job application or a formal presentation. You will encounter it in newspapers and more demanding literature. At this stage, you should also be able to distinguish 'gebürtig' from related words like 'stammend aus' or 'ansässig'. You should understand the nuance that 'gebürtig' is strictly about birth, whereas 'stammend aus' can be about heritage or family background. You might also see it used in debates about identity and integration, where the distinction between 'gebürtige Deutsche' and 'eingebürgerte Deutsche' (naturalized Germans) is important. Your goal at B2 is to use 'gebürtig' to add precision to your descriptions of social and cultural identity.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the C1 level, you will analyze the use of 'gebürtig' in varied and complex texts. You will notice it in academic papers, high-level journalism, and classical literature. You should be comfortable with its placement in long, complex sentences, such as 'Der in Frankfurt gebürtige und nun in London lebende Philosoph veröffentlichte sein neues Werk.' Here, 'gebürtig' is part of an extended adjective phrase. You should also understand the historical and sociological weight the word can carry in discussions about 'Heimat' (homeland) and identity. At C1, you should be able to use the word to express subtle differences in status and origin, and you should be aware of its slightly more formal register compared to 'ursprünglich'. You might also explore how the word is used in legal contexts regarding citizenship by birth (jus soli).

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of 'gebürtig' and all its nuances. You can use it rhetorically to emphasize or de-emphasize origins depending on your communicative goal. You understand its etymological roots and how it relates to the broader family of words around 'Geburt' and 'gebären'. In C2, you might encounter archaic or highly literary uses, such as 'bürtig', and understand their stylistic effect. You can use 'gebürtig' in sophisticated stylistic constructions, perhaps even ironically or metaphorically. You are also fully aware of the political and social sensitivities surrounding terms of origin in modern German discourse. Your use of the word is not just grammatically perfect, but also culturally and contextually precise, reflecting a deep understanding of German society and its focus on regional and national roots.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

gebürtig en 30 secondes

Used to describe a person's place of birth or origin. It is an adjective and must be declined if used before a noun.
Commonly paired with the preposition 'aus' (from) to specify the city or country of birth, such as 'gebürtig aus Köln'.
Distinguishes between original heritage and current residence or naturalized citizenship in formal and biographical contexts.
Derived from the German word for birth ('Geburt') and is used almost exclusively for people, not objects or animals.

The German adjective gebürtig is a sophisticated yet essential term used to describe a person's place of origin or their heritage by birth. Derived from the noun Geburt (birth), it functions similarly to the English phrase 'native-born' or 'by birth'. In the German-speaking world, identity is often tied to one's roots, and gebürtig provides a precise way to indicate where someone started their life journey, regardless of where they reside now. It is most commonly used in biographies, formal introductions, and when discussing ancestry or migration patterns. For instance, if someone has lived in New York for forty years but was born in Hamburg, they would describe themselves as a gebürtiger Hamburger.

Geographical Origin: This is the most frequent application. It identifies the city, state, or country of birth. It often follows the pattern [Place] + [gebürtig], such as münchnerisch gebürtig, though the construction gebürtig aus [Ort] is more standard in modern German.
Status of Heritage: It distinguishes between someone who has moved to a place and gained citizenship (naturalized) and someone who was born into that identity. Using this word adds a layer of 'originality' to the description of a person.
Formal Narratives: In journalism and literature, gebürtig is used to provide background information about a protagonist or a public figure, helping to contextualize their cultural influences or linguistic dialect.

Frau Müller ist eine gebürtige Wienerin, lebt aber seit Jahrzehnten in Berlin.

Translation: Mrs. Müller is a native Viennese, but has lived in Berlin for decades.

Understanding gebürtig requires recognizing its grammatical behavior as an adjective. Unlike the verb geboren (born), which focuses on the act of birth, gebürtig focuses on the state of being a native. It is almost exclusively used for humans. You would rarely use it for animals or inanimate objects unless you were being highly metaphorical. In a societal context, Germany places a high value on regional identity. Being gebürtig from a specific region often implies a connection to certain traditions, culinary tastes, or even a specific local dialect that persists even after the person moves away.

Er ist gebürtiger Franzose, besitzt aber mittlerweile die deutsche Staatsbürgerschaft.

Translation: He is French by birth, but now holds German citizenship.

Prepositional Usage: Usually followed by 'aus' (from) or 'in' (in). 'Gebürtig aus Köln' is the most common way to link the adjective to a specific city.

Sind Sie gebürtig aus dieser Region oder sind Sie zugezogen?

Using gebürtig correctly involves understanding its declension as an adjective and its typical placement in a sentence. It can be used both attributively (before a noun) and predicatively (after a verb like 'sein'). When used attributively, it must agree with the gender and case of the noun it modifies. For example, 'ein gebürtiger Berliner' (nominative masculine) or 'einer gebürtigen Münchnerin' (dative feminine). This flexibility allows it to fit into complex descriptions of people's identities.

Attributive Use: Placed directly before the noun. Example: 'Der gebürtige Spanier liebt die deutsche Pünktlichkeit.' Here, 'gebürtige' modifies 'Spanier', emphasizing his origin as a Spaniard by birth.
Predicative Use: Used after the verb 'sein' (to be). Example: 'Ich bin gebürtig aus Hamburg.' In this case, the adjective does not change its ending because it is not followed by a noun.

Als gebürtige Polin spricht sie fließend Deutsch und Polnisch.

Translation: As a native Pole, she speaks fluent German and Polish.

A key aspect of using gebürtig is the choice of preposition. While 'aus' is the standard for cities and countries, 'in' can also be used, though it is slightly less common. One might say 'Er ist in Rom gebürtig', but 'Er ist gebürtig aus Rom' sounds more natural to most native speakers. Additionally, gebürtig is often paired with professions or titles to give a full picture of a person's background in formal writing, such as 'Der gebürtige Schweizer Architekt entwarf das Gebäude'.

Mein Vater ist gebürtiger Sachse, aber er hat seinen Dialekt fast ganz verloren.

Combining with Adverbs: You can use adverbs to refine the meaning. Example: 'rein gebürtig' (purely native-born) or 'eigentlich gebürtig' (actually born in...).

You will encounter gebürtig in a variety of settings ranging from the highly formal to the mildly descriptive in daily conversation. It is a staple of German media, particularly in biographical sketches or news reports about famous individuals. When a news anchor introduces a guest, they might say, 'Heute begrüßen wir den gebürtigen Kölner Autor...' to establish the guest's local connection. This helps the audience relate to the person's origins.

In the Media: Newspapers like 'Die Zeit' or 'FAZ' use it constantly in obituaries, profile pieces, and political reporting. It is a concise way to mention a person's background without needing a full sentence like 'He was born in...'.
Official Documents and Forms: While forms usually ask for 'Geburtsort' (place of birth), descriptive summaries in legal or administrative contexts often use 'gebürtig' to clarify status.

In der Talkshow wurde sie als gebürtige Berlinerin vorgestellt.

Translation: On the talk show, she was introduced as a native Berliner.

In everyday life, you might hear it during a first meeting or a social gathering when people are 'breaking the ice'. Germans take pride in their regional roots, so asking 'Sind Sie gebürtig von hier?' (Are you originally from here?) is a very common and polite way to inquire about someone's history. It sounds slightly more elegant than simply asking 'Woher kommen Sie?'. Furthermore, in the context of migration and integration, the word plays a role in identifying 'gebürtige Deutsche' (native Germans) versus those who have moved to Germany later in life, a distinction often discussed in sociological contexts.

Der gebürtige Bayer vermisste in Hamburg vor allem das gute Bier seiner Heimat.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make is confusing gebürtig with the past participle geboren. While they both relate to birth, they are used in different grammatical structures. You cannot say 'Ich habe gebürtig' or 'Ich wurde gebürtig'. You must say 'Ich bin gebürtig' (adjective with 'to be') or 'Ich wurde geboren' (passive voice with 'to become'). Another common slip-up is using the wrong preposition. While 'aus' is generally the safest bet, students often try to use 'von', which sounds slightly off in most contexts.

Confusing with 'geboren': Incorrect: 'Er ist in Berlin geboren.' (Correct, but uses the verb). Incorrect: 'Er ist gebürtig in Berlin.' (Correct, but 'aus' is better). The mistake is trying to use 'gebürtig' where a verb is needed: 'Er hat gebürtig...' is always wrong.
Adjective Endings: Many learners forget to decline the word when it comes before a noun. 'Ein gebürtig Mann' is wrong; it must be 'Ein gebürtiger Mann'.

Falsch: Ich bin gebürtig von London.
Richtig: Ich bin gebürtige Londonerin.

Additionally, learners sometimes use gebürtig for things that aren't people. You wouldn't say a car is 'gebürtig aus Deutschland'; you would say it 'stammt aus Deutschland' or 'wurde in Deutschland hergestellt'. The word gebürtig carries a human, biological connotation that doesn't apply to objects. Finally, be careful with the word gebürtig in the context of 'maiden names'. While related to birth, the term for maiden name is Geburtsname, though you might see 'geborene [Name]' in older contexts, gebürtig is not used for names, only for places or nationalities.

Falsch: Er ist gebürtig Japaner.
Richtig: Er ist gebürtiger Japaner.

Explanation: The adjective needs the masculine '-er' ending here.

When you want to express origin, several other words and phrases might be more appropriate depending on the level of formality or the specific nuance you wish to convey. While gebürtig is specific to birth, other terms focus on where someone currently lives, where they grew up, or where their family comes from. Understanding these differences will help you sound more like a native speaker and allow you to describe people more accurately.

Stammend aus: This is a very close synonym but slightly more formal and broader. 'Stammend aus' can refer to birth, but also to family lineage or even the origin of an object. Example: 'Ein aus Italien stammender Wein' (A wine originating from Italy).
Heimisch: Meaning 'native' or 'local'. This is often used for plants, animals, or customs. 'Heimische Bräuche' are local customs. For people, it implies they feel at home in a place, not necessarily that they were born there.
Ansässig: Meaning 'resident' or 'settled'. This is the opposite of gebürtig in terms of focus. It describes where someone lives now. 'In Berlin ansässig' means living in Berlin, regardless of where they were born.

Vergleich: Er ist gebürtiger Hamburger (born there), aber in München ansässig (lives there now).

Another alternative is simply using the prepositional phrase 'von Geburt an' (from birth) or 'ursprünglich' (originally). 'Ich bin ursprünglich aus Köln' is a very common way to say the same thing in casual conversation. If you are talking about nationality, 'Staatsangehörigkeit' is the technical term, but gebürtig is more about the personal, geographical starting point. In literary contexts, you might also find 'bürtig', though this is archaic and almost never used in modern German except perhaps in very specific regional dialects or historical texts.

Obwohl er gebürtiger Amerikaner ist, fühlt er sich als echter Europäer.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The suffix '-ig' is a very common German adjective-forming suffix, similar to '-y' or '-ic' in English. The word has remained remarkably stable in meaning for centuries.

Guide de prononciation

UK /ɡəˈbyːɐ̯tɪç/

US /ɡəˈbyrtɪk/

The primary stress is on the second syllable: ge-BÜR-tig.

Rime avec

bürgt ich würdig dürftig tüchtig flüchtig richtig wichtig nichtig

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing 'ü' like 'u'.
Pronouncing 'ig' as a hard 'ig' like in English 'big' (it should be like 'ich').
Stress on the first syllable.
Muffling the 't' sound.
Failing to vocalize the 'r' correctly.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 3/5

Easy to recognize if you know 'Geburt'.

Écriture 4/5

Requires correct adjective endings.

Expression orale 4/5

The 'ü' and 'ig' sounds can be tricky for beginners.

Écoute 3/5

Commonly heard in introductions.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

die Geburt geboren kommen aus die Stadt das Land

Apprends ensuite

die Herkunft die Staatsangehörigkeit ansässig stammend die Wurzeln

Avancé

autochthon provenienz die Abstammungsurkunde bürtig eingebürgert

Grammaire à connaître

Adjective Declension

Ein gebürtig**er** Mann, eine gebürtig**e** Frau.

Prepositional Phrases

Gebürtig **aus** [Dativ].

Predicative vs Attributive

Er ist gebürtig (predicative). Der gebürtige Mann (attributive).

Nouns from Adjectives

Der Gebürtige (the native person).

Word Formation with 'ge-'

Geburt, gebürtig, geboren.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour lire l'explication complète

Exemples par niveau

Ich bin gebürtig aus Berlin.

I am native to Berlin.

Simple predicative use with 'sein'.

Ist er gebürtig aus Wien?

Is he originally from Vienna?

Question form using 'gebürtig'.

Sie ist eine gebürtige Münchnerin.

She is a native Viennese (woman).

Attributive use with feminine ending '-e'.

Mein Vater ist gebürtiger Pole.

My father is Polish by birth.

Attributive use with masculine ending '-er'.

Wir sind gebürtig aus der Schweiz.

We are native to Switzerland.

Plural use with 'aus der Schweiz'.

Bist du gebürtig aus London?

Are you from London by birth?

Informal question.

Sie ist nicht gebürtig von hier.

She is not originally from here.

Negation with 'nicht'.

Ein gebürtiger Hamburger mag Fisch.

A native Hamburger likes fish.

Masculine nominative ending.

Meine Mutter ist eine gebürtige Spanierin, aber sie lebt in Köln.

My mother is a native Spaniard, but she lives in Cologne.

Contrast between birth and current residence.

Er ist gebürtig aus einem kleinen Dorf.

He is originally from a small village.

Using 'aus' with a noun phrase.

Sind Sie gebürtig aus Deutschland oder aus Österreich?

Are you originally from Germany or Austria?

Comparative question.

Die gebürtige Italienerin kocht sehr gut.

The native Italian (woman) cooks very well.

Definite article with adjective ending.

Mein Chef ist gebürtiger Amerikaner.

My boss is American by birth.

Masculine ending without article.

Sie sind gebürtig aus Paris, nicht wahr?

You are originally from Paris, right?

Tag question.

Ich kenne viele gebürtige Berliner.

I know many native Berliners.

Plural accusative ending.

Er ist ein gebürtiger Sachse und stolz darauf.

He is a native Saxon and proud of it.

Adjective modifying a regional noun.

Obwohl sie gebürtige Französin ist, spricht sie kaum noch Französisch.

Although she is a native Frenchwoman, she hardly speaks French anymore.

Concessive clause with 'obwohl'.

Der gebürtige Kölner Karnevalist freut sich auf die fünfte Jahreszeit.

The native Cologne carnivalist is looking forward to the fifth season.

Complex noun phrase.

Sind Sie eigentlich gebürtig aus dieser Gegend?

Are you actually originally from this area?

Using 'eigentlich' for emphasis.

Als gebürtiger Bayer liebt er Weißwurst zum Frühstück.

As a native Bavarian, he loves white sausage for breakfast.

Prepositional phrase with 'als'.

Sie ist eine gebürtige Berlinerin, die nun in New York lebt.

She is a native Berliner who now lives in New York.

Relative clause.

Viele gebürtige Einwohner haben die Stadt verlassen.

Many native inhabitants have left the city.

Plural nominative with 'viele'.

Er ist gebürtig aus einfachen Verhältnissen.

He comes from humble beginnings by birth.

Metaphorical use of origin.

Meine Nachbarin ist eine gebürtige Russin, die perfekt Deutsch spricht.

My neighbor is a native Russian who speaks perfect German.

Adjective with relative clause.

Der gebürtige Schweizer Architekt hat weltweit berühmte Gebäude entworfen.

The native Swiss architect has designed world-famous buildings.

Professional title with origin adjective.

Es ist ein Unterschied, ob man gebürtiger Deutscher ist oder die Staatsbürgerschaft später erworben hat.

There is a difference between being a native German and having acquired citizenship later.

Subordinate clause with 'ob'.

Die Autorin ist gebürtig aus Prag und schreibt ihre Romane auf Deutsch.

The author is originally from Prague and writes her novels in German.

Predicative use in a compound sentence.

Trotz ihrer gebürtigen Herkunft aus dem Süden fühlt sie sich im Norden wohl.

Despite her native origin from the south, she feels comfortable in the north.

Genitive construction with 'trotz'.

Er wurde als gebürtiger Wiener oft nach seinen Lieblingscafés gefragt.

As a native Viennese, he was often asked about his favorite cafes.

Passive voice with 'als' phrase.

Viele gebürtige Londoner können sich die Mieten in ihrer Stadt nicht mehr leisten.

Many native Londoners can no longer afford the rents in their city.

Social context usage.

Sie blieb ihrer gebürtigen Heimat immer eng verbunden.

She always remained closely connected to her native homeland.

Dative case with 'verbunden'.

Der Film handelt von einem gebürtigen Berliner, der in die USA auswandert.

The film is about a native Berliner who emigrates to the USA.

Dative masculine ending after 'von'.

Seine gebürtige Verbundenheit mit der Region prägt sein gesamtes künstlerisches Schaffen.

His native connection to the region shapes his entire artistic output.

Abstract noun modified by 'gebürtig'.

Die Frage, wer als gebürtiger Staatsbürger gilt, wird oft hitzig debattiert.

The question of who counts as a native citizen is often heatedly debated.

Indirect question with 'wer'.

Als gebürtige Polin hat sie eine ganz eigene Perspektive auf die europäische Geschichte.

As a native Pole, she has a very unique perspective on European history.

Complex identity description.

Der in Frankfurt gebürtige Dichter verbrachte seine letzten Jahre in Italien.

The poet, born in Frankfurt, spent his final years in Italy.

Extended adjective phrase (Partizipialattribut).

Trotz seiner gebürtigen Herkunft aus einfachen Verhältnissen stieg er zum CEO auf.

Despite his native origin from simple circumstances, he rose to become CEO.

Genitive with 'trotz'.

Die gebürtige Identität lässt sich nicht einfach ablegen wie ein Kleidungsstück.

One's native identity cannot simply be cast off like a piece of clothing.

Metaphorical use.

Man erkennt ihn sofort als gebürtigen Bayern an seinem markanten Dialekt.

One recognizes him immediately as a native Bavarian by his distinctive dialect.

Accusative masculine ending.

Die Studie untersucht die Lebenswege gebürtiger Großstädter im Vergleich zu Zugezogenen.

The study examines the life paths of native city dwellers compared to newcomers.

Genitive plural ending.

In seinem Werk thematisiert der Autor die Zerrissenheit zwischen seiner gebürtigen Kultur und seiner Wahlheimat.

In his work, the author addresses the conflict between his native culture and his adopted home.

Complex abstract nouns.

Die gebürtige Zugehörigkeit zu einer sozialen Schicht beeinflusst oft die Bildungschancen.

Native belonging to a social class often influences educational opportunities.

Sociological terminology.

Obschon er gebürtiger Brite ist, schreibt er seine philosophischen Abhandlungen ausschließlich auf Deutsch.

Although he is a native Briton, he writes his philosophical treatises exclusively in German.

Use of the formal conjunction 'obschon'.

Die feinen Nuancen seiner Sprache verraten ihn als gebürtigen Hanseaten.

The subtle nuances of his language reveal him to be a native Hanseatic.

Nuanced descriptive vocabulary.

Es bleibt zu klären, inwieweit die gebürtige Herkunft die politische Gesinnung determiniert.

It remains to be clarified to what extent native origin determines political views.

Academic passive construction.

Seine gebürtige Skepsis gegenüber Autoritäten rührt von seinen Erfahrungen in der Jugend her.

His innate skepticism towards authorities stems from his experiences in his youth.

Using 'gebürtig' to describe a character trait (innate).

Die gebürtige Verankerung in einer Tradition bietet oft Halt in einer sich schnell wandelnden Welt.

Native anchoring in a tradition often provides stability in a rapidly changing world.

Highly metaphorical/abstract.

Sie reflektiert in ihrem Essay über die Last und Lust einer gebürtigen Aristokratin.

In her essay, she reflects on the burden and pleasure of being a native aristocrat.

Literary genitive construction.

Collocations courantes

gebürtiger Berliner

gebürtige Wienerin

gebürtig aus Köln

gebürtiger Deutscher

rein gebürtig

gebürtiger Name

gebürtiger Jude

gebürtiger Adeliger

gebürtiger Landwirt

gebürtiger Bewohner

Phrases Courantes

Ich bin gebürtig aus...

— Standard way to say where you were born.

Ich bin gebürtig aus Frankfurt.

Er ist gebürtiger [Stadt]er.

— Standard way to describe a man's city of birth.

Er ist gebürtiger Hamburger.

Sie ist gebürtige [Stadt]erin.

— Standard way to describe a woman's city of birth.

Sie ist gebürtige Münchnerin.

Sind Sie gebürtig von hier?

— Polite inquiry about someone's origin.

Entschuldigung, sind Sie gebürtig von hier?

Nicht gebürtig sein

— To not be from a place originally.

Ich bin nicht gebürtig aus Berlin, ich bin zugezogen.

Als gebürtiger...

— Starting a sentence to explain a trait based on origin.

Als gebürtiger Schweizer spricht er vier Sprachen.

Der gebürtige...

— Used in journalism to introduce someone.

Der gebürtige Spanier gewann das Rennen.

Eigentlich gebürtig

— Clarifying the actual place of birth.

Ich lebe in Bonn, bin aber eigentlich gebürtig aus Kiel.

Vom Stamm her gebürtig

— Emphasizing family roots (rare).

Er ist vom Stamm her gebürtiger Sachse.

Gebürtig und aufgewachsen

— Born and raised.

Ich bin in München gebürtig und aufgewachsen.

Souvent confondu avec

gebürtig vs geboren

Geboren is a verb/participle (born); gebürtig is an adjective (native-born).

gebürtig vs stammend

Stammend is broader and can apply to objects or lineage; gebürtig is usually for people and birth.

gebürtig vs ansässig

Ansässig refers to where you live now; gebürtig refers to where you were born.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Waschechter [Ort]er"

— A 'real' or 'dyed-in-the-wool' person from a place, often implying they are 'gebürtig'.

Er ist ein waschechter Berliner.

informal

"Ein Kind der Stadt sein"

— To be a child of the city, implying being born there.

Sie ist ein echtes Kind der Stadt Köln.

neutral

"Hier seine Wurzeln haben"

— To have one's roots here.

Obwohl er weggezogen ist, hat er hier seine Wurzeln.

neutral

"Vom alten Schlag sein"

— To be of the old school/stock, often associated with regional origin.

Er ist ein Bayer vom alten Schlag.

informal

"Seiner Heimat treu bleiben"

— To stay true to one's homeland.

Als gebürtiger Sachse blieb er seiner Heimat immer treu.

neutral

"Das Licht der Welt erblicken"

— To see the light of the world (to be born).

Er erblickte in Hamburg das Licht der Welt.

literary

"In die Wiege gelegt bekommen"

— To have something put in one's cradle (to be born with a talent).

Das Musizieren wurde dem gebürtigen Wiener in die Wiege gelegt.

neutral

"Heimatverbunden sein"

— To be connected to one's home region.

Gebürtige Bayern sind oft sehr heimatverbunden.

neutral

"Ein Urgestein sein"

— To be a 'living fossil' or veteran of a place, usually implying long-term or native status.

Er ist ein Urgestein der Berliner Szene.

informal

"Lokalpatriat sein"

— To be a local patriot (very proud of one's birthplace).

Als gebürtiger Kölner ist er ein echter Lokalpatriot.

neutral

Facile à confondre

gebürtig vs geboren

Both relate to birth.

'Geboren' is the past participle used to form the passive ('Ich wurde geboren'). 'Gebürtig' is an adjective describing a state of being.

Ich wurde in Berlin geboren. Ich bin gebürtiger Berliner.

gebürtig vs stammend

Both indicate origin.

'Stammend' is more formal and can refer to family lines or objects. 'Gebürtig' is specific to the individual's birth.

Dieser Wein ist aus Italien stammend. Der Winzer ist gebürtiger Italiener.

gebürtig vs ursprünglich

Both mean 'originally'.

'Ursprünglich' is an adverb/adjective that can apply to anything (ideas, plans, people). 'Gebürtig' is specifically about birth.

Mein ursprünglicher Plan war anders. Ich bin gebürtig aus Kiel.

gebürtig vs heimisch

Both mean 'native'.

'Heimisch' is used for species or feeling at home. 'Gebürtig' is the technical term for birthplace.

Die Tanne ist hier heimisch. Er ist gebürtiger Bayer.

gebürtig vs bürgerlich

Sounds similar.

'Bürgerlich' means 'civil' or 'middle-class'. It has nothing to do with birth origin.

Sein bürgerlicher Name ist Müller.

Structures de phrases

Ich bin gebürtig aus [Ort].

Ich bin gebürtig aus Berlin.

Er/Sie ist ein/eine gebürtige(r) [Nationalität/Stadt].

Er ist ein gebürtiger Spanier.

Als gebürtige(r) [Ort]er, [Verb] ich...

Als gebürtiger Bayer liebe ich Brezeln.

Obwohl [Subjekt] gebürtig aus [Ort] ist, [Verb]...

Obwohl er gebürtig aus Rom ist, lebt er in Berlin.

Der in [Ort] gebürtige [Beruf]...

Der in Hamburg gebürtige Maler...

Trotz seiner/ihrer gebürtigen Herkunft...

Trotz ihrer gebürtigen Herkunft aus Polen...

Die Zerrissenheit zwischen gebürtiger Kultur und Wahlheimat...

Die Zerrissenheit zwischen gebürtiger Kultur und Wahlheimat prägt ihn.

[Substantiv] der gebürtigen Identität...

Der Verlust der gebürtigen Identität ist schmerzhaft.

Famille de mots

Noms

die Geburt (birth)

der Geburtsort (birthplace)

der Geburtsname (maiden/birth name)

die Gebürtigkeit (nativeness - rare)

Verbes

gebären (to give birth)

geboren sein (to be born)

Adjectifs

gebürtig (native-born)

geburtshilflich (obstetric)

Apparenté

die Herkunft

die Abstammung

die Heimat

der Ureinwohner

das Geburtsrecht

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour voir tous les exemples

Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Common in biographical, journalistic, and formal social contexts.

Erreurs courantes

Ich bin gebürtig von Berlin. → Ich bin gebürtig aus Berlin.
The preposition 'aus' is the standard for origin with 'gebürtig'.
Er ist ein gebürtig Mann. → Er ist ein gebürtiger Mann.
Adjectives before a noun must be declined.
Ich habe gebürtig in Wien. → Ich bin gebürtig aus Wien.
'Gebürtig' is an adjective used with 'sein', not an auxiliary verb for 'haben'.
Das Auto ist gebürtig aus Japan. → Das Auto stammt aus Japan.
'Gebürtig' is only for people.
Mein gebürtiger Name ist... → Mein Geburtsname ist...
'Gebürtig' describes the person, not the name itself.

Astuces

Check the Ending

Always match the ending of 'gebürtig' to the gender and case of the person you are describing.

Use with 'aus'

Stick to the preposition 'aus' when naming a city or country after 'gebürtig'.

Distinguish from 'geboren'

Remember: 'Ich wurde geboren' (Action) vs. 'Ich bin gebürtig' (State/Origin).

Biographical Polish

Use 'gebürtig' in resumes or introductions to sound more professional.

Regional Pride

Germans value regional identity; 'gebürtig' is a great way to acknowledge this.

Soft 'ig'

The 'ig' at the end should be a soft 'ch' sound in standard German.

Birth Connection

Link 'gebürtig' to 'Geburtstag' to remember it relates to birth.

Avoid for Objects

Don't use 'gebürtig' for cars or food; use 'stammend aus' instead.

Identify Origin

Listen for this word in interviews to quickly catch where someone is from.

Extended Phrases

Try phrases like 'in Frankfurt gebürtig' for a sophisticated literary style.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'GE-BÜRT-IG'. The 'BÜRT' sounds a bit like 'BIRTH'. So, 'GE-BIRTH-IG' means you are 'birth-y' from a place!

Association visuelle

Imagine a baby wearing a tiny t-shirt that says 'I am from Berlin'. That baby is 'gebürtig' from Berlin.

Word Web

Geburt Geburtsort geboren Heimat Herkunft Abstammung Eltern Wurzeln

Défi

Try to write three sentences about your family members using 'gebürtig'. Make sure to use the correct endings for male and female relatives!

Origine du mot

Derived from the Middle High German 'geburtec', which comes from the Old High German 'giburtig'. It is directly related to the noun 'Geburt' (birth).

Sens originel : The original meaning was 'related to birth' or 'descended from'.

Germanic, part of the Indo-European family. Cognate with English 'birth' and 'born'.

Contexte culturel

Be careful when discussing 'gebürtige Deutsche' in political contexts, as it can sometimes be used to exclude people who have naturalized, though the word itself is neutral.

In English, we often just say 'originally from' or 'born in'. 'Native-born' sounds a bit more formal, which matches the register of 'gebürtig'.

Albert Einstein was a 'gebürtiger Ulmer' (native of Ulm). Marlene Dietrich was a 'gebürtige Berlinerin'. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a 'gebürtiger Österreicher'.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Introductions

Darf ich vorstellen? Er ist gebürtiger Kölner.
Ich bin gebürtig aus...
Wo sind Sie gebürtig?
Sie ist gebürtige Polin.

Biographies

Der gebürtige Autor...
Sie blieb ihrer gebürtigen Heimat treu.
Sein gebürtiger Name war...
In [Stadt] gebürtig, zog er später nach...

Job Interviews

Ich bin gebürtig aus...
Da ich gebürtiger [Ort]er bin, kenne ich den Markt.
Meine gebürtigen Sprachkenntnisse...
Trotz meiner gebürtigen Herkunft...

Legal/Official

Gebürtiger Staatsbürger
Nicht gebürtig
Ort der Gebürtigkeit (rare)
Nachweis der gebürtigen Herkunft

Travel/Tourism

Sind Sie gebürtig von hier?
Ein gebürtiger Guide
Lokale Tipps von einem gebürtigen [Ort]er
Die gebürtige Bevölkerung

Amorces de conversation

"Sind Sie eigentlich gebürtig aus dieser Stadt oder sind Sie zugezogen?"

"Ich bin gebürtiger Berliner, und Sie? Wo haben Sie Ihre Wurzeln?"

"Man hört Ihren Dialekt kaum. Sind Sie gebürtig aus dieser Region?"

"Als gebürtige Wienerin vermisse ich manchmal die Kaffeehauskultur. Geht es Ihnen mit Ihrer Heimat auch so?"

"Wussten Sie, dass unser Chef gebürtiger Schweizer ist?"

Sujets d'écriture

Beschreiben Sie Ihre gebürtige Herkunft. Wo sind Sie geboren und was bedeutet dieser Ort für Sie heute?

Denken Sie an eine berühmte Person, die gebürtig aus Ihrem Land kommt. Warum ist sie wichtig?

Fühlen Sie sich eher Ihrem gebürtigen Ort oder Ihrem aktuellen Wohnort verbunden? Warum?

Schreiben Sie über eine Tradition aus Ihrer gebürtigen Heimat, die Sie immer noch pflegen.

Stellen Sie sich vor, Sie ziehen in ein neues Land. Wie würden Sie Ihre gebürtige Identität dort erklären?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

It's rare. Usually, you use 'heimisch' or 'stammend aus' for animals. 'Gebürtig' has a human connotation.

Use 'gebürtig aus'. 'Gebürtig von' is occasionally heard in dialects but 'aus' is the standard and correct preposition.

Yes, if it's before a noun (e.g., 'ein gebürtiger Berliner'). No, if it's after 'sein' (e.g., 'Ich bin gebürtig aus Berlin').

'Geboren' is a verb form ('I was born'), while 'gebürtig' is an adjective ('I am a native').

No, the correct term is 'Geburtsname'.

It is neutral to slightly formal. It's very common in newspapers and biographies.

Yes, 'gebürtiger Spanier' or 'gebürtig aus Spanien' are perfectly correct.

Make an 'ee' sound with your tongue and round your lips like you're saying 'oo'.

'Bürtig' is an old, archaic form of 'gebürtig' and is rarely used today.

Not necessarily. It implies place of birth. One can be 'gebürtiger Deutscher' but have a different citizenship, though usually they go together.

Inscris-toi gratuitement pour les astuces et notes