German word

Essay

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈɛsɛɪ̯/

Meaning

  • masculine nounessay

Example

Sie hat gestern ein Essay geschrieben.

She wrote an essay yesterday.

Illustration for Essay (essay)

More examples

Zum Seminar soll jeder ein Essay schreiben.

For the seminar, everyone is supposed to write an essay.

Core concept

A compact notebook page where a writer tests ideas about one subject through personal reflection.

Common phrases

  • ein Essay schreiben

    write an essay

  • ein Essay verfassen

    write an essay

Similar words

Aufsatz: A formal piece written in an assigned school or academic format.
Kommentar: A brief piece offering views or commentary on a current event.
Artikel: A piece in a newspaper or magazine that conveys facts about events.
Glosse: A humorous, satirical piece that gently criticizes social happenings.

Definition in German

Ein kurzer, meist subjektiver Text, der persönliche Beobachtungen oder Überlegungen zu einem Thema präsentiert.

Word origin

German Essay is an international borrowing related to English essay and ultimately to French essai, from essayer, meaning 'to try'.

Usage tips

  • Essay is masculine in German: der Essay, des Essays, and plural die Essays.

Other meanings

  • papernoun

Related words

  • Essayistessayistnoun
  • essayistischessayisticadjective

Word lists with this word