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Welt
/vɛlt/
world
Die Welt ist voller Wunder.
The world is full of wonders.
general
The Earth as a planet or the physical environment in which people live.
Er reist um die Welt.
He travels around the world.
Can refer to the entire planet or the human environment.
general
A particular aspect or sphere of human activity or experience.
Die Welt der Wissenschaft ist faszinierend.
The world of science is fascinating.
Often used with possessive determiners (e.g., 'die Welt des Sports').
general
A specific time period or era.
In der modernen Welt gibt es viele Technologien.
In the modern world, there are many technologies.
Can refer to historical periods or contemporary times.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Capitalization
Remember that all German nouns, including 'Welt', are capitalized.
Gold Rule
Literal vs. Figurative
Use 'Welt' for both the physical planet and abstract concepts like 'the world of fashion'.
Word Origin
From Middle High German 'welt', from Old High German 'weralt', from Proto-Germanic 'weraldiz', meaning 'age of man' or 'humanity'.
Usage Notes
Always capitalized in German as it is a noun. Can be used both literally and metaphorically.
Word Breakdown
Welt
world
rootDeutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch