German word

Erscheinung

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛɐ̯ˈʃaɪ̯nʊŋ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounappearance

Example

Seine Erscheinung wirkte gepflegt.

His appearance seemed neat and well-groomed.

Illustration for Erscheinung (appearance)

More examples

Die äußere Erscheinung beeinflusste den ersten Eindruck.

His appearance seemed well-groomed.

Core concept

What appears before an observer can be either an outward impression or a striking event.

Common phrases

  • äußere Erscheinung

    physical appearance

  • professionelle Erscheinung

    professional appearance

Similar words

Aussehen: A person's physical appearance, including facial features, clothing, and visible details.
Auftreten: The impression created by a person's conduct, manner, and way of speaking.
Eindruck: The overall feeling or impression formed in another person's mind.
Äußeres: The externally visible form and features of a person or thing.

Definition in German

Erscheinung (f.) bezeichnet den ersten Eindruck oder die äußere Wirkung, die eine Person oder Sache auf den Betrachter macht; seltener auch das sichtbare Auftreten eines Ereignisses.

Word origin

Erscheinung derives from erscheinen with the suffix -ung, preserving the idea of something becoming perceptible while also naming its visible effect.

Usage tips

  • Erscheinung is more formal or abstract than Aussehen when describing a person's outward impression.

Other meanings

  • phenomenonnoun
  • emergencenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word