German Conversation · Level 49
73 words
German word
arm
Pronunciation
IPA/aʁm/
Meaning
- adjectivepoor
Example
Er ist arm.
He is poor.
More examples
Sie stammt aus armen Verhältnissen.
She comes from poor circumstances.
Core concept
A bare cupboard and a worn coat mark a life with no financial cushion, making it vulnerable and pitiable.
Common phrases
ein armes Kind
a poor child
aus armen Verhältnissen
from poor circumstances
Similar words
mittellos: Having virtually no money or possessions.
bedürftig: Requiring financial or material support because basic needs cannot be met alone.
ärmlich: Suggesting poverty through a plain, worn, or poorly maintained appearance.
Definition in German
Wenig Besitz oder Einkommen haben; materiell benachteiligt sein.
Word origin
German arm is an inherited Germanic adjective from Proto-Germanic *armaz, attested in Old High German arm and continuing its basic sense of lacking resources.
Usage tips
- The pattern arm an plus dative describes something lacking, as in arm an Geld for poor in money.