German word

Existenz

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛksɪsˈtɛnt͡s/

Meaning

  • feminine nounexistence

Example

Viele Menschen kämpfen um ihre Existenz.

Many people fight for their existence.

Illustration for Existenz (existence)

More examples

Das Gericht prüfte die Existenz des Vertrags.

The court examined the existence of the contract.

Core concept

A foothold in reality that can mean either being present or having the support needed to keep living.

Common phrases

  • die Existenz sichern

    secure one's existence

  • um die Existenz kämpfen

    fight for one's existence

Similar words

Leben: Being alive, or the life of a person or other living thing.

Definition in German

Existenz ist das Dasein oder Vorhandensein von etwas; im übertragenen Sinn auch die Lebensgrundlage einer Person.

Word origin

German Existenz is a learned borrowing from Latin existentia, which was formed from exsistere, meaning 'to emerge' or 'come into being'.

Usage tips

  • In 'um die Existenz kämpfen', Existenz commonly refers to a livelihood or economic survival, not only to philosophical existence.

Other meanings

  • livelihoodnoun
  • survivalnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • Existenzgründungbusiness start-upnoun
  • Existenzminimumsubsistence minimumnoun
  • existenziellexistentialadjective

Word lists with this word