German Conversation · Level 25
90 words
German word
Geschichte
Pronunciation
IPA/gəˈʃɪçtə/
Meaning
- feminine nounstory
Example
Er hat mir drei Geschichten aus seiner Kindheit erzählt.
He told me three stories from his childhood.
More examples
Die Kinder hören gern eine Geschichte vor dem Schlafengehen.
The children like listening to a story before bedtime.
Core concept
Events form a thread that can be narrated to someone or examined as part of the past.
Common phrases
eine Geschichte erzählen
tell a story
eine Geschichte lesen
read a story
eine Geschichte schreiben
write a story
Similar words
Erzählung: A narrative that arranges events in a deliberate sequence.
Erlebnis: An event that someone personally experienced.
Anekdote: A short, memorable story about a personal incident.
Märchen: A children's tale about wondrous events that could not happen in reality.
Definition in German
Eine erzählte Folge von Ereignissen oder Handlungen; auch das, was in der Vergangenheit geschehen ist.
Word origin
The German noun Geschichte developed from Middle High German geschihte and is related to geschehen, so its older sense centered on an occurrence or happening.
Usage tips
- Context distinguishes the main English translations: eine Geschichte is usually a story, whereas die Geschichte Deutschlands normally means the history of Germany.