German Conversation · Level 27
90 words
German word
Kontinent
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈkɔntinɛnt/
Meaning
- masculine nouncontinent
Example
Europa ist ein Kontinent.
Europe is a continent.
More examples
Auf dem Kontinent Afrika leben viele Tierarten.
Many animal species live on the continent of Africa.
Core concept
A broad unbroken land body divided into many national territories rather than separated by ocean into islands.
Common phrases
der europäische Kontinent
the European continent
auf dem Kontinent leben
live on the continent
der größte Kontinent
the largest continent
Similar words
Land: An independent country or the territory under its authority.
Erdteil: One of the Earth's major divisions into large land areas.
Festland: The mainland area excluding islands.
Definition in German
Eine große zusammenhängende Landfläche, die mehrere Staaten umfasst und sich deutlich von Inseln oder anderen Landmassen abgrenzt.
Word origin
German Kontinent is a borrowing from French continent, ultimately from Latin continens, "holding together," a form of continere, "to contain."
Usage tips
- The phrase auf dem Kontinent commonly contrasts mainland Europe with an island, while auf einem Kontinent means being on a continent more generally.
Opposites
- Ozeanoceannoun
Related words
- kontinentalcontinentaladjective
- interkontinentalintercontinentaladjective