German word

Faust

Pronunciation

IPA/faʊ̯st/

Meaning

  • feminine nounfist

Example

Er schlug mit der Faust gegen die Tür.

He hit the door with his fist.

Illustration for Faust (fist)

More examples

Vor Schmerz ballte er die Faust.

He clenched his fist in pain.

Core concept

A closed hand with the fingers pressed into the palm and the knuckles forming a firm front.

Common phrases

  • die Faust ballen

    clench one's fist

  • die Faust in die Luft strecken

    raise one's fist in the air

Similar words

Hand: The body part at the end of the arm, used for grasping and touching.
Faustschlag: A single blow delivered with a tightly clenched hand.
Schlag: A blow or impact delivered against a person or object.
Finger: A slender part at the end of the hand, used for pointing or grasping.

Definition in German

Eine mit den Fingern zur Handfläche geballte, feste Hand, die besonders zum Schlagen gebraucht wird.

Word origin

Faust continues Old High German fūst and is cognate with English fist through inherited Germanic development.

Usage tips

  • Faust is feminine, with the plural form Fäuste: die Faust, die Fäuste.

Related words

  • Faustregelrule of thumbnoun
  • Faustrechtrule by forcenoun

Word lists with this word