German word

literarisch

Pronunciation

IPA/lɪtəˈʁaːʁɪʃ/

Meaning

  • adjectiveliterary

Example

Sein Stil ist literarisch.

His style is literary.

Illustration for literarisch (literary)

More examples

Der Roman ist literarisch geschrieben.

The novel is written in a literary style.

Core concept

A carefully shaped passage whose wording carries artistic texture as well as information.

Common phrases

  • literarisch geschrieben

    written in a literary style

  • literarisch angehaucht

    with a literary touch

Similar words

wörtlich: Taken in the precise meaning of the words rather than as a figure of speech.
poetisch: Having the beauty, emotion, and imagery associated with poetry.

Definition in German

Zur Literatur gehörig oder in kunstvoller, sprachlich gestalteter Form ausgedrückt

Word origin

Literarisch comes through Latin litterarius, concerning letters or writing, from littera, letter, and developed into the German adjective for literature and literary expression.

Usage tips

  • Literarisch means 'literary', not 'literally'; the usual German equivalent of 'literally' is 'wörtlich'.

Opposites

  • prosaischprosaicadjective

Related words

  • Literarikerliterary writernoun
  • das Literarischethe literarynoun

Word lists with this word