German word

Bürgerkrieg

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈbʏʁgɐˌkʁiːk/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncivil war

Example

Wir sprechen oft über den Bürgerkrieg.

We often talk about the civil war.

Illustration for Bürgerkrieg (civil war)

More examples

Die Friedensinitiative wollte einen Bürgerkrieg verhindern.

The peace initiative wanted to prevent a civil war.

Core concept

One country is split into rival armed groups that fight each other within its own borders.

Common phrases

  • einen Bürgerkrieg verhindern

    prevent a civil war

  • vom Bürgerkrieg geprägt sein

    be shaped by the civil war

  • nach dem Bürgerkrieg wiederaufbauen

    rebuild after the civil war

Similar words

Krieg: A major war fought by armies or other armed forces.
Konflikt: A dispute or tension arising from conflicting interests or opinions.
Revolution: A large-scale effort to transform political or social structures rapidly and fundamentally.
Aufstand: A short-lived act of resistance against those in power, sometimes involving violence.

Definition in German

Bürgerkrieg bezeichnet einen inneren Krieg, der zwischen bewaffneten Gruppen innerhalb eines Staates ausgetragen wird.

Word origin

Bürgerkrieg combines Bürger, 'citizens', with Krieg, 'war', forming a German compound for war within a state rather than between states.

Usage tips

  • Bürgerkrieg is masculine, with the plural Bürgerkriege; the final noun Krieg determines the compound's gender and plural pattern.

Opposites

Related words

  • Bürgerkriegserfahrungcivil war experiencenoun
  • Bürgerkriegszeitcivil war periodnoun

Word lists with this word