German Conversation · Level 80
60 words
German word
Unterhalt
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈʊntɐhalt/
Meaning
- masculine nounliving expenses
Example
Sie verdient genug, um ihren Unterhalt zu bestreiten.
She earns enough to cover her living expenses.
More examples
Er nimmt Überstunden, damit der Unterhalt der Familie gesichert ist.
He works overtime to ensure that the family's living expenses are covered.
Core concept
The financial support that allows a child, spouse, or other person to continue living adequately.
Common phrases
Unterhalt sichern
secure living expenses
Unterhaltspflicht
support obligation
Similar words
Lebensunterhalt: Money needed to maintain someone's everyday life.
Lebenshaltungskosten: The combined costs of housing, food, utilities, and other daily needs.
Unterhaltszahlung: Regular support payments made after separation or divorce.
Unterhaltspflicht: A legal duty to provide someone with financial support.
Definition in German
Unterhalt (m) regelmäßige Zahlungen oder finanzielle Mittel zur Deckung des Lebensbedarfs einer Person, insbesondere zur Versorgung von Kindern oder Ehegatten
Word origin
The noun Unterhalt developed from the verb unterhalten in the sense of sustaining or providing for someone, rather than from its separate sense of entertaining.
Usage tips
- In legal language, Unterhalt often refers to mandated support for a child or spouse, whereas context can give it the broader sense of ordinary living support.
Other meanings
- child supportnoun
- maintenance costsnoun
- livelihoodnoun
Opposites
- Eigenversorgungself-provisionnoun
- Selbstständigkeitself-reliancenoun
Related words
- Unterhaltsanspruchright to maintenancenoun
- Unterhaltsrechtsupport lawnoun
- unterhaltsrechtlichrelated to maintenance lawadjective