German word

Fürst

Pronunciation

IPA/fʏʁst/

Meaning

  • masculine nounprince

Example

Als Fürst unterschrieb er die Urkunde.

As a prince, he signed the document.

Illustration for Fürst (prince)

More examples

Seit dem Tod seines Vaters trägt er den Titel Fürst.

Since his father's death, he has borne the title of prince.

Core concept

A crownless ruler occupies the highest place in a principality's hierarchy and represents its court.

Common phrases

  • den Titel Fürst tragen

    bear the title of prince

  • der Fürst von Liechtenstein

    the prince of Liechtenstein

Similar words

Fürstin: A female ruler of a principality or other hereditary territory.
König: A king who rules an entire country.
Prinz: A man of royal birth expected to inherit the throne.
Monarch: The supreme ruler who governs and represents an entire country.

Definition in German

ein regierender Adeliger, der als oberster Leiter eines Fürstentums fungiert

Word origin

The German noun comes through Middle High German vürste from Old High German furisto and ultimately from the Germanic form *furistaz, 'first'.

Usage tips

  • Fürst is a masculine weak noun: its plural and most oblique singular forms use Fürsten, as in mit dem Fürsten and die Fürsten.

Opposites

Related words

  • Fürstenhausprincely housenoun
  • Fürstentitelprincely titlenoun

Word lists with this word