German Conversation · Level 12
90 words
German word
gotisch
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈgoːtɪʃ/
Meaning
- adjectivegothic
Example
Die Stadt hat eine gotische Kirche.
The city has a Gothic church.
More examples
In der Altstadt sind viele Beispiele gotischer Baukunst erhalten.
Many examples of Gothic architecture have been preserved in the old town.
Core concept
A tall stone building draws the eye upward through pointed arches, narrow windows, and dense carved detail.
Common phrases
gotische Baukunst
Gothic architecture
gotische Glasfenster
Gothic stained-glass windows
Similar words
romanisch: Built with semicircular arches and thick walls that create a solid, weighty impression.
neugotisch: Based on a nineteenth-century revival of Gothic forms and decoration.
barock: Marked by lavish ornament and sweeping curves that convey movement and splendor.
Definition in German
Zur Gotik gehörend; durch spitze Bögen, hohe Fenster und dekorative Details geprägter Stil des Mittelalters.
Word origin
German "gotisch" comes from Latin "gothicus", meaning "of the Goths", and Renaissance writers later applied it, mistakenly, to the medieval style.
Usage tips
- As an adjective, "gotisch" is lowercase and takes regular endings, as in "eine gotische Kirche".