German Conversation · Level 35
75 words
German word
Ikone
Pronunciation
IPA/iˈkoːnə/
Meaning
- feminine nounicon
Example
In der Kirche hängt eine Ikone.
An icon hangs in the church.
More examples
Im Museum steht eine Ikone aus dem 15. Jahrhundert.
In the museum, there is a 15th-century icon.
Core concept
A revered image that represents a holy figure and, more broadly, an admired person or defining cultural symbol.
Common phrases
eine Ikone aus dem 15. Jahrhundert
a 15th-century icon
eine fragile Ikone
a fragile icon
die Rückseite der Ikone
the back of the icon
Similar words
Heiligenbild: A sacred picture showing a saint or the Virgin, kept for display and worship.
Statue: A solid figure of stone, wood, or another material used for devotion or memorial purposes.
Bild: A flat visual representation, such as a painting, drawing, or photograph.
Reliquie: A sacred object consisting of a saint's remains or possessions, preserved for worship.
Definition in German
In Kirchen verehrtes Bild eines Heiligen oder der Gottesmutter; in der Alltagssprache oft übertragen für eine herausragende Persönlichkeit oder ein kulturelles Symbol.
Word origin
The German noun is borrowed from Greek eikōn, image, a term that entered Christian vocabulary through Latin and other European languages.
Usage tips
- The figurative sense of Ikone often carries strong admiration, while a computer icon is commonly called ein Icon in German.
Other meanings
- symbolnoun
Related words
- Ikonenmalereiicon paintingnoun
- Ikonographieiconographynoun