German word

Sitte

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈzɪtə/

Meaning

  • feminine nouncustom

Example

In unserem Dorf sind die Sitten noch sehr wichtig.

In our village, customs are still very important.

Illustration for Sitte (custom)

More examples

In vielen Regionen halten die Menschen an den guten Sitten fest.

In many regions, people adhere to good customs.

Core concept

A community's familiar pattern of conduct is handed down through generations and treated as the proper way to act.

Common phrases

  • nach Sitte

    according to custom

  • an den guten Sitten festhalten

    adhere to good customs

  • Sitten und Gebräuche

    customs and traditions

Similar words

Gewohnheit: An individual behavior repeated so often that it becomes habitual.
Brauch: An inherited custom governing a festival, ceremony, or ritual.
Anstand: Respectful conduct guided by social standards of decency.
Umgangsform: A conventional form of behavior used when dealing with others.

Definition in German

Sitte bezeichnet eine in einer Gemeinschaft übliche, überlieferte Verhaltensweise oder Gewohnheit, die als soziale Norm empfunden wird.

Word origin

Sitte is an inherited Germanic noun, recorded in Old High German as sitta and developed through Middle High German sitte.

Usage tips

  • The plural Sitten is common when discussing a community's morals or customs, as in gute Sitten, while Gewohnheit usually refers to an individual habit.

Other meanings

  • traditionnoun
  • practicenoun

Related words

  • Sittlichkeitmoralitynoun
  • Sittenwandelchange in customsnoun
  • sittenlosimmoraladjective

Word lists with this word