German word

Gift

Pronunciation

IPA/gɪft/

Meaning

  • neuter nounpoison

Example

Im Labor sind alle Gifte sicher verschlossen.

All poisons in the lab are safely locked away.

Illustration for Gift (poison)

More examples

Im Boden wurden Spuren von Gift gefunden.

Traces of poison were found in the soil.

Core concept

A sealed vial marked with a skull, holding a hidden danger that harms the body when it gets inside.

Common phrases

  • Spur von Gift

    trace of poison

  • Gift im Trinkwasser

    poison in drinking water

  • mit Gift kontaminiert

    contaminated with poison

Similar words

Giftstoff: A harmful substance found in industrial products or household chemicals.
Toxin: A potent natural chemical made by a living organism.
Giftgas: A harmful substance in gas form that causes acute harm when inhaled.
Vergiftung: A state of poisoning or the symptoms caused by taking in poison.

Definition in German

ein Stoff, der Lebewesen schädigt oder tötet, wenn er aufgenommen, eingeatmet oder über die Haut wirkt

Word origin

German Gift is related to geben and English gift; its older sense was 'something given', while the modern noun denotes a harmful substance.

Usage tips

  • German Gift is a false friend of English gift; the usual German word for a present is Geschenk.

Related words

  • giftigpoisonousadjective
  • Vergiftungpoisoningnoun
  • Giftstofftoxic substancenoun

Word lists with this word