German word

Tradition

Pronunciation

IPA/tʁadiˈt͡si̯oːn/

Meaning

  • feminine nountradition

Example

Viele Traditionen haben eine lange Geschichte.

Many traditions have a long history.

Illustration for Tradition (tradition)

More examples

In unserem Dorf pflegen viele Familien die Tradition, sonntags zusammen zu essen.

In our village, many families uphold the tradition of eating together on Sundays.

Core concept

A community keeps an old pattern alive by repeating it at shared occasions and passing it on.

Common phrases

  • eine Tradition pflegen

    uphold a tradition

  • etwas zur Tradition machen

    make something a tradition

  • alte Traditionen bewahren

    preserve old traditions

Similar words

Sitte: A custom accepted by a group as proper conduct or social rule.
Brauch: A traditional observance or practice kept in a particular region or family.
Gewohnheit: A daily habit or manner of acting repeated almost unconsciously.

Definition in German

Eine überlieferte, in einer Gemeinschaft fest verankerte Gewohnheit oder ein wiederkehrendes Brauchtum.

Word origin

German Tradition comes from Latin traditio, from tradere, meaning 'to hand over', through the sense of something handed down.

Usage tips

  • Tradition is feminine in German: die Tradition, with the plural Traditionen.

Other meanings

  • customnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • traditionelltraditionaladjective
  • Traditionspflegetradition preservationnoun
  • Traditionalisttraditionalistnoun

Word lists with this word