German Conversation · Level 84
57 words
German word
Knabe
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈknaːbə/
Meaning
- masculine nounboy
Example
Beim Konzert stand ein Knabe auf der Bühne.
At the concert, a boy stood on the stage.
More examples
Der freche Knabe lachte und rannte davon.
The cheeky boy laughed and ran away.
Core concept
A lad on a stage or in a story, with a distinctly elevated rather than conversational presence.
Common phrases
frecher Knabe
cheeky boy
schüchterner Knabe
shy boy
Similar words
Junge: A common everyday word for a boy or young male.
Definition in German
Altes oder dichterisches Wort für einen Jungen; in der gesprochenen Alltagssprache selten.
Word origin
The German noun is an inherited Germanic word, attested as Old High German knabo and continued as Middle High German knabe.
Usage tips
- Modern everyday German usually uses Junge; Knabe mainly occurs in literary, poetic, historical, or deliberately old-fashioned language.
Other meanings
- ladnoun
- little boynoun
Opposites
- Erwachseneradultnoun