German Conversation · Level 8
90 words
German word
Herz
Pronunciation
IPA/hɛʁt͡s/
Meaning
- neuter nounheart
Example
Sie hat ein gutes Herz.
She has a good heart.
More examples
Das Festival ist das kulturelle Herz der Stadt.
The festival is the cultural heart of the city.
Core concept
A beating inner core that keeps a body alive and can stand for its emotional center.
Common phrases
ein Herz am rechten Fleck
a heart in the right place
ein Herz für Kinder haben
have a heart for children
Similar words
Brust: The front part of the body between the neck and abdomen.
Herzstück: The especially important central part of a whole.
Zentrum: A central place where activity is concentrated.
Kern: The most important central part of something.
Definition in German
Das Herz ist das zentrale Organ des Kreislaufs und bezeichnet übertragen den Mittelpunkt oder Kern von Gefühlen, Dingen oder Orten.
Word origin
Herz comes through Old High German herza from Proto-Germanic *hertōn and ultimately Indo-European *kerd-, with figurative center senses developing from the bodily organ.
Usage tips
- Herz is neuter: das Herz, plural die Herzen, but its singular genitive is des Herzens.
Other meanings
- tickernoun
- couragenoun
- centernoun
Opposites
- Kältecoldnessnoun
- Gleichgültigkeitindifferencenoun
Related words
- herzlosheartlessadjective
- Herzblattsweetheartnoun
- Herzschmerzheartbreaknoun