German Conversation · Level 44
73 words
German word
Legende
Pronunciation
IPA/leˈgɛndə/
Meaning
- feminine nounlegend
Example
Früher erzählte man viele Legenden über das Königreich.
In the past, many legends were told about the kingdom.
More examples
Der Legende nach soll der Brunnen Wünsche erfüllen.
According to legend, the well is said to grant wishes.
Core concept
A passed-down tale gives human meaning to the past, while a map's small key gives meaning to its signs.
Common phrases
der Legende nach
according to legend
die Legende besagt
the legend says
Similar words
Sage: A traditional oral tale about heroes or memorable events.
Mythos: A mythic tale explaining divine figures or how the world began.
Märchen: A children's tale featuring magic and imaginary creatures.
Erzählung: A short story that recounts events or experiences in sequence.
Definition in German
Mündlich oder schriftlich überlieferte Erzählung mit häufig mythischem Charakter; zudem Bezeichnung für die Erklärung von Zeichen und Symbolen auf Karten.
Word origin
German Legende comes through Latin legenda, "things to be read," a term associated with readings about saints that later extended to traditional tales and map explanations.
Usage tips
- Legende is feminine, so the singular forms are die Legende and eine Legende, while the plural is die Legenden.