German Conversation · Level 61
74 words
German word
Nagel
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈnaːgəl/
Meaning
- masculine nounfingernail
Example
Sie lackt sich die Nägel.
She is painting her nails.
More examples
Beim Kochen hat er sich den Nagel eingerissen.
While cooking, he tore his fingernail.
Core concept
A hard, narrow piece that sits at a fingertip or is driven through wood.
Common phrases
sich den Nagel einreißen
tear one's fingernail
einen Nagel lackieren
paint a fingernail
Similar words
Fingernagel: A thin, hard plate covering a finger's tip.
Zehennagel: A thin, hard plate covering a toe's tip.
Definition in German
Dünne, harte Hornschicht, die Finger- oder Zehenspitzen bedeckt; außerdem ein spitzer Befestigungsstift aus Metall oder Holz.
Word origin
German Nagel comes from Proto-Germanic *naglaz and is related to English nail, covering both the body part and the fastener.
Usage tips
- Nagel is masculine, with the plural Nägel, so the example uses the plural form die Nägel.
Other meanings
- nailnoun
Related words
- nagelneubrand-newadjective
- Nagelbettnail bednoun