German word

Kardinal

Pronunciation

IPA/kaɐ̯diˈnaːl/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncardinal

Example

Ich habe den Kardinal im Dom gesehen.

I saw the cardinal in the cathedral.

Illustration for Kardinal (cardinal)

More examples

Der Kardinal äußerte seine Meinung deutlich.

The cardinal clearly expressed his opinion.

Core concept

A senior Catholic church leader at the center of the Church's leadership and the choice of a pope.

Common phrases

  • der Kardinal von Rom

    the cardinal of Rome

  • einen Kardinal ernennen

    appoint a cardinal

  • Kardinal im Konklave

    cardinal in the conclave

Similar words

Papst: The supreme leader of the worldwide Catholic Church.
Bischof: A church leader who oversees a local area and supervises its priests.
Priester: A Catholic cleric who leads worship, teaches believers, and performs religious rites.

Definition in German

Ein Mitglied des Kardinalskollegiums und damit ein hoher Würdenträger der katholischen Kirche mit Mitspracherecht bei der Papstwahl.

Word origin

German Kardinal comes from Latin cardinalis, meaning "principal" or "central," which derives from cardo, "hinge."

Usage tips

  • Unlike English cardinal, German Kardinal chiefly denotes the Catholic office, while the English senses "fundamental" and a red bird require different German words or context.

Opposites

Word lists with this word