German word

Klage

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈklaːgə/

Meaning

  • feminine nouncomplaint

Example

Es gab viele Klagen über den Lärm.

There were many complaints about the noise.

Illustration for Klage (complaint)

More examples

Nach dem guten Service hatte ich keine Klage.

After the good service, I had no complaint.

Core concept

A formal grievance brought before a court, or voiced aloud as a complaint or lament.

Common phrases

  • keine Klage haben

    have no complaint

Similar words

Beschwerde: An oral or written statement of dissatisfaction addressed to a shop or another party.
Reklamation: A customer claim about a faulty product or service seeking a replacement or refund.

Definition in German

Klage ist eine formelle Eingabe an ein Gericht, mit der jemand einen Anspruch geltend macht.

Word origin

Klage comes through Middle High German klage from Old High German klagōn, a Germanic verb for lamenting or complaining, whose sense extended to legal claims.

Usage tips

  • The collocations eine Klage einreichen and eine Klage erheben specifically mark a court action, while sich über etwas beschweren commonly marks an everyday complaint.

Other meanings

  • lawsuitnoun
  • lamentnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word