German word

Sprachgebrauch

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃpʁaːxgəˌbʁaʊ̯x/

Meaning

  • masculine nounuse of language

Example

Sein Sprachgebrauch ist höflich und klar.

His use of language is polite and clear.

Illustration for Sprachgebrauch (use of language)

More examples

In offiziellen Dokumenten ist der schriftliche Sprachgebrauch meist präzise.

In official documents, written language use is usually precise.

Core concept

A community's shared pattern for choosing and shaping words in speech and writing.

Common phrases

  • mündlicher Sprachgebrauch

    spoken language use

  • schriftlicher Sprachgebrauch

    written language use

  • dialektaler Sprachgebrauch

    dialectal language use

Similar words

Sprachstil: The characteristic form and atmosphere of someone's speech or writing.
Register: The degree of formality or technical language appropriate to a context.
Wortwahl: The process of choosing particular words for a given situation.
Ausdruck: Wording that conveys a feeling, idea, or thought.

Definition in German

Sprachgebrauch ist die Art und Weise, wie Wörter und Wendungen in einer Sprachgemeinschaft gebraucht werden.

Word origin

Sprachgebrauch combines Sprache, 'language', with Gebrauch, 'use' or 'usage', forming a compound for how language is used.

Usage tips

  • Sprachgebrauch is a masculine noun, so its definite article is der and its genitive form is des Sprachgebrauchs.

Other meanings

  • way of speakingnoun

Related words

  • Sprachgebrauchspraktikenlanguage-use practicesnoun
  • Sprachgebrauchsuntersuchunglanguage-use studynoun

Word lists with this word