German word

Bach

Pronunciation

IPA/bax/

Meaning

  • masculine nounstream

Example

In den Bergen gibt es viele Bäche.

There are many streams in the mountains.

Illustration for Bach (stream)

More examples

Wir wollen am Bach picknicken.

We want to have a picnic by the stream.

Core concept

A narrow ribbon of running water winds through the landscape and feeds a larger waterway.

Common phrases

  • am Bach picknicken

    have a picnic by the stream

  • über den Bach springen

    jump over the stream

Similar words

Fluss: A long, sizeable natural waterway with a substantial flow.
See: A wide area of fresh water surrounded by land along its shores.

Definition in German

ein kleiner Wasserlauf, der oft in einen größeren Fluss mündet

Word origin

Bach continues Old High German bah through Middle High German bach and belongs to inherited Germanic vocabulary for flowing water.

Usage tips

  • Bach is masculine, with the plural die Bäche; the umlaut changes the vowel in both spelling and pronunciation.

Other meanings

  • Bachnoun

Word lists with this word