German word

katholisch

Pronunciation

IPA/kaˈtoːlɪʃ/

Meaning

  • adjectivecatholic

Example

Sie hat einen katholischen Freund.

She has a Catholic friend.

Illustration for katholisch (catholic)

More examples

In unserer Stadt gibt es mehrere katholische Schulen.

There are several Catholic schools in our town.

Core concept

A faith tradition organized around the Roman Catholic Church, with its own teachings, rites, clergy, and community.

Common phrases

  • katholischer Glaube

    Catholic faith

  • katholische Tradition

    Catholic tradition

  • katholische Schule

    Catholic school

Similar words

römisch-katholisch: Formally belonging to or associated with the Roman Catholic Church.
christlich: Relating to Christianity as a whole, including its beliefs and traditions.
evangelisch: Relating to Protestant churches, their faith, and forms of worship.

Definition in German

Zur römisch-katholischen Kirche gehörig oder auf ihre Lehre, Rituale und Angehörigen bezogen.

Word origin

German katholisch comes through Latin catholicus from Greek katholikos, meaning 'universal' or 'according to the whole'.

Usage tips

  • German katholisch normally refers to Roman Catholic matters, while English catholic can also mean broad-minded or universal.

Opposites

Related words

  • KatholikCatholicnoun
  • KatholizismusCatholicismnoun

Word lists with this word