German word

Flieger

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈfliːgɐ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounplane

Example

Der Flieger startete pünktlich vom Flughafen.

The plane took off from the airport on time.

Illustration for Flieger (plane)

More examples

Wir mussten den Flieger nehmen, um den Anschlusszug zu erreichen.

We had to take the plane to catch the connecting train.

Core concept

A flyer in the sky, meaning either the person in control or the aircraft being flown.

Common phrases

  • mit dem Flieger

    by plane

  • den Flieger nehmen

    take the plane

  • den Flieger verpassen

    miss the plane

Similar words

Flugzeug: A powered aircraft used to carry people or cargo.
Maschine: A casual term for the aircraft itself in airport or flight operations.
Pilot: The person who flies and controls an aircraft.
Fluggerät: A somewhat technical term for an aircraft of any kind.

Definition in German

eine Person, die fliegt oder historisch/militärisch ein Pilot; im Alltag auch kurz für ein Flugzeug

Word origin

Flieger is formed from the German verb "fliegen" and the agent suffix "-er", while the aircraft sense developed later in everyday aviation language.

Usage tips

  • Flieger is masculine, and its plural is also Flieger, so the article distinguishes "der Flieger" from "die Flieger".

Other meanings

  • pilotnoun

Related words

  • Fliegereiflyingnoun
  • Fliegerjackeflight jacketnoun
  • Fliegeruhrpilot's watchnoun

Word lists with this word