German word

Herkunft

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈheːɐ̯ˌkʊnft/

Meaning

  • feminine nounorigin

Example

Meine Herkunft ist Frankreich.

I am from France.

Illustration for Herkunft (origin)

More examples

Bitte geben Sie Ihre Herkunft an.

Please state your origin.

Core concept

A trail leading from a person back to the place and circumstances they come from.

Common phrases

  • die Herkunft angeben

    state one's origin

  • seine Herkunft verbergen

    hide one's origin

Similar words

Geburtsstadt: The city in which someone was born.
Wohnort: A person's current place of residence.
Herkunftsland: The country of a person's birth or family origin.
Heimat: A homeland strongly associated with belonging and affection.

Definition in German

Herkunft bezeichnet im weiteren Sinn die persönliche Herkunft, also Geburtsort, familiäre Wurzeln und soziale Herkunft.

Word origin

The noun Herkunft developed from the German elements her and kunft, which refer to movement toward here and coming, respectively.

Usage tips

  • Herkunft can include social background, whereas Herkunftsort specifically identifies the place of origin.

Other meanings

  • backgroundnoun
  • sourcenoun

Related words

  • Herkunftsangabestatement of originnoun
  • herkunftlichorigin-relatedadjective
  • Herkunftslandcountry of originnoun

Word lists with this word