German word

Sklave

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈsklaːvə/

Meaning

  • masculine nounslave

Example

Er war früher ein Sklave.

He used to be a slave.

Illustration for Sklave (slave)

More examples

Sie fühlte sich als Sklave der Umstände.

She felt like a slave to circumstances.

Core concept

A human being forced to work for someone else while lacking the rights and freedom normally associated with an independent person.

Common phrases

  • Sklave der Umstände

    slave to circumstances

  • als Sklave leben

    live as a slave

Similar words

Diener: A paid servant who performs household or personal duties.
Hausangestellte: A paid domestic worker who cleans, cooks, or handles other household tasks.
Zwangsarbeiter: A worker compelled to work through force or threats.
Sklaverei: A system that treats people as property and permits their sale or ownership.

Definition in German

Eine Person, die ohne eigene Rechte einer anderen Person unterworfen ist und gegen ihren Willen arbeiten muss.

Word origin

Sklave is related to English slave and French esclave through Medieval Latin sclavus, which developed from a term for a Slav.

Usage tips

  • The masculine noun has the weak pattern: der Sklave, den Sklaven, and the plural die Sklaven.

Other meanings

  • subordinatenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • Sklavereislaverynoun
  • versklavenenslaveverb
  • sklavischservileadjective

Word lists with this word