German word

Fluch

Pronunciation

IPA/fluːx/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncurse

Example

Der Fluch wurde gebrochen.

The curse was broken.

Illustration for Fluch (curse)

More examples

Das Dorf erlag dem Fluch.

The village succumbed to the curse.

Core concept

An uttered curse is treated as a force that can cause disaster, while a figurative curse is a persistent source of trouble.

Common phrases

  • dem Fluch erliegen

    succumb to the curse

  • einen Fluch abwenden

    avert a curse

Similar words

Verwünschung: A spoken or enacted curse meant to cause someone misfortune or harm.
Schimpfwort: A coarse word used to insult someone or express strong anger.
Zauberspruch: A short spell spoken to bring about a particular magical result.
Verdammnis: A religious sentence of lasting punishment and lost salvation.

Definition in German

Fluch bezeichnet eine ausgesprochene Formel oder Vorstellung, die jemandem Unheil, Schaden oder Verderben zuschreibt oder bringt.

Word origin

The older German forms fluoh and vluoch referred to a curse or harmful utterance and developed into modern Fluch.

Usage tips

  • Fluch can describe a figurative burden or source of trouble, as in der Fluch des Erfolgs, not only a supernatural curse.

Other meanings

  • imprecationnoun
  • banenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • verfluchencurseverb
  • Verfluchungimprecationnoun

Word lists with this word