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English-German Cognates
Genuine CognatesD

Words that are identical or similar in English and German

ALSO SEE
  > False Cognates (False Friends)
  > Confusing Words and Expressions

Noun Genders: r (der, masc.), e (die, fem.), s (das, neu.)
Abbreviations: adj. adjective, adv. adverb, Am American English, Br British English, diff. used in a different or limited sense, f.c. false cognate, n. noun, pl. plural, pron. pronounced, v. verb

* = Less obvious cognates that may not closely resemble each other in both English and German, but are cognates
** = Words used in English that come from German

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What's a COGNATE? > Grammar Glossary - C


D

dame e Dame
  diff. - German Dame means "lady" (meine Damen und Herren = ladies and gentlemen) or "queen" in a deck of cards.

dance r Tanz
dancer r Tänzer/e Tänzerin
  NOTE: Similar to dance/Tanz, other English-German cognates also reflect the so-called "d-t shift" in which an English d replaces the German t or th: dollar/Thaler, door/Tür, etc. This shift also works in the other direction: thank/danken, leather/Leder.

data e Daten (pl.)
data bank e Datenbank

date s Datum (calendar)

day r Tag* (d-t shift; see more under "dance" above)

dead tot* (TOTE)
death r Tod* (dare TOTE) (d-t shift; see more under "dance" above)

deaf taub* (d-t shift; see more under "dance" above)

debacle s Debakel

debut s Debüt

decadence e Dekadenz
decadent dekadent

decimal Dezimal-, e Dezimalzahl (decimal number)

December r Dezember

deck s Deck (nautical, bus)

decorate dekorieren

defect r Defekt (mech., physical)

demo e Demo (protest, sample)

Denmark s Dänemark

depot s Depot (storage, garage)

deserter r Deserteur

design s Design
designer r Designer

devil r Teufel* (TOY-fel) (d-t shift; see more under "dance" above)

diamond r Diamant

diesel r Diesel
  NOTE: The diesel engine gets its name from its German inventor, Rudolf Diesel.

dike r Deich (barrier)

discipline e Disziplin

disco e Disko

discuss diskutieren (über)
discussion e Diskussion

dock s Dock (nautical)

doctor r Doktor
  NOTE: As in English, the term Doktor can refer to various kinds of doctors (Ph.D., MD, etc.). A medical doctor or physician is der Arzt (m.) or die Ärztin (f.).

dollar r Thaler (d > th shift: Cognate Sound Shifts)
  NOTE: A Thaler (pron. TALLER) is an old unit of currency from which "dollar" also gets its name.

dolphin r Delphin

domino r Domino (piece), s Domino (game)

door e Tür (d-t shift; see more under "dance" above)

doping s Doping

dove e Taube* (d-t shift; see more under "dance" above)

dozen s Dutzend

dream r Traum (TROW-m) (d-t shift; see more under "dance" above)

drink trinken
drunk(en) betrunken* (d-t shift; see more under "dance" above)

drug e Droge (illegal)
drugstore e Drogerie (sells cosmetics, toiletries, but NO prescriptions!)

dumb dumm (not smart)

dynamic dynamisch (adj./adv.)
dynamic(s) e Dynamik

dynamite s Dynamit

dynamo r Dynamo

dynasty e Dynastie


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German in English > You Already Know German

ALSO > False Cognates (false friends)

MORE > English-German Glossaries on many topics
MORE > Confusing Words and Expressions in German


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