German word

nieder

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈniːdɐ/

Meaning

  • adverbdown

Example

Der Ball fiel nieder.

The ball fell down.

Illustration for nieder (down)

More examples

Sie senkte den Blick nieder.

She lowered her gaze.

Core concept

A thing moves from a higher position and comes to rest at a lower one.

Common phrases

  • fiel nieder

    fell down

  • setzte sich nieder

    sat down

  • senkte den Blick nieder

    lowered the gaze

Similar words

runter: An informal expression for moving downward from a higher place.
herunter: A standard expression for moving downward from a higher place.
unten: Being in a low position or in a place below.
hinunter: Moving downward to a lower place away from the starting point.

Definition in German

Drückt aus, dass etwas auf einen tieferen Platz geht oder sich dort befindet.

Word origin

Nieder developed from Old High German nidar through Middle High German into modern German, from a Germanic root related to English nether.

Usage tips

  • In conversational German, hinunter or the informal runter is more usual than nieder for ordinary downward movement.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word