Germanic

/dʒərˈmænɪk/ adjective

Definition

Relating to Germany, Germans, or their language and culture. Pertaining to the family of languages including German, English, Dutch, and Scandinavian languages.

Etymology

From Latin 'Germanicus', from 'Germani' (the Germanic tribes). Possibly from Gaulish word meaning 'neighbor' or from Germanic 'gar' (spear) + 'man'. Romans used this to describe various tribes east of the Rhine.

Kelly Says

English is actually a Germanic language, despite borrowing heavily from Latin and French - our basic grammar and core vocabulary (the, and, is, house, water) come from Germanic roots. This explains why German and English share surprising similarities hidden beneath centuries of linguistic evolution.

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