German word

Untergrund

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʊntɐˌgʁʊnt/

Meaning

  • masculine noununderground

Example

Ich lebe im Untergrund.

I live underground.

Illustration for Untergrund (underground)

More examples

Viele Menschen arbeiten im Untergrund.

Many people work underground.

Core concept

A hidden layer beneath the visible surface, from soil and rock to an unseen social world.

Common phrases

  • im Untergrund arbeiten

    work underground

  • kultureller Untergrund

    underground culture

  • aus dem Untergrund heraus agieren

    act from underground

Similar words

Boden: The visible surface of the ground.
Keller: A basement room used for storing goods.
Untergeschoss: A floor of a building below ground level.
Erdreich: The layer of soil directly beneath the ground surface.

Definition in German

Untergrund bezeichnet den Bereich unter der Erdoberfläche und im übertragenen Sinn verborgene Gruppen oder Szenen.

Word origin

Untergrund is a compound of unter, meaning 'below', and Grund, meaning 'ground' or 'foundation', with its figurative senses developing from this spatial idea.

Usage tips

  • Untergrund is masculine, so the phrase is im Untergrund with the dative article; its plural is Untergründe.

Other meanings

  • subsoilnoun
  • underground culturenoun

Opposites

  • Offenheitopennessnoun
  • Sichtbarkeitvisibilitynoun

Related words

  • Untergrundliteraturunderground literaturenoun
  • Untergrundkulturunderground culturenoun

Word lists with this word