English-German Cognates
Genuine Cognates • I
Words that are identical or similar in English and German
ALSO SEE
> False Cognates (False Friends)
> Cognate Sound Shifts
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
I
iambic adj. jambisch
iambic pentameter fünfüßiger Jambus
Iberia Iberische Halbinsel (Iberian Peninsula, Spain & Portugal)
Iberian adj. iberisch
ibis s Ibis
ice s Eis (pron. like English "ice") > Vowel Sound Shifts (ei-i)
iceberg r Eisberg
ice cold adj. eiskalt
ice hockey s Eishockey
Iceland s Island (pron. EEZ-lant)
ichthyology e Ichthyologie (also e Fischkunde)
icon s Icon (computing)
icon e Ikone (person/religion)
icy adj. eisig
idea n. e Idee (pron. ee-day)
ideal adj. ideal
ideal n. s Ideal
idealism r Idealismus
idealize v. idealisieren
identical adj. identisch
identity e Identität
ideological adj. ideologisch
ideology e Ideologie
idiot r Idiot
idol s Idol (also r Götze)
idyll n. s Idyll
idyllic adj. idyllisch
igloo r/s Iglu
ignore ignorieren
illegal adj. illegal (also ungesetzlich)
illustrate illustrieren
illustrated adj. illustriert
immune adj. immun (to, gegen)
imperative (mood) r Imperativ (grammar, also e Befehlsform)
imperfect (tense) s Imperfekt (grammar)
imperialism r Imperialismus
imperialist n. r Imperialist
imperialistic adj. imperialistisch
import v. importieren
India s Indien
Indian r Inder (from India)
Indian adj. indisch (of India)
Indian adj. indianisch (American)
Indian r Indianer (Native American)
Note that German makes a distinction between an American Indian and a person from India.
Indian Ocean Indischer Ozean
Indonesia s Indonesien
industry e Industrie
influence r Einfluss > Vowel Sound Shifts (ei-i)
information e Information (pl. Informationen, die Infos)
In German the plural (Infos) is more common; the singular Information means "a piece of information."
insect s Insekt
intelligent adj. intelligent
intense/intensive adj. intensiv
intensive course r Intensivkurs
international adj. international
iota s Jota
Iran r Iran
Iranian adj. iranisch
Iranian n. r Iraner/e Iranerin
For more countries and nationalities, see: Countries in German
Iraq r Irak
Iraqi adj. irakisch
Iraqi n. r Iraker/e Irakerin
Ireland s Irland
Irish adj. irisch
Irish n. r Ire/e Irin
iridium s Iridium
For more elements, see: Chemical Elements in German
Islam r Islam
Islamic adj. islamisch
isolation e Isolation (state)
isolation e Isolierung (act)
Isolierung can also mean "insulation."
isomer s Isomer (chem.)
isometric adj.) isometrisch
isometrics e Isometrik
Israel s Israel
Israeli adj. israelisch
Israeli n. r Israeli/e Israeli
Italian See Italy below
Italy s Italien
Italian adj. italienisch
Italian n. r Italiener/e Italienerin
NEXT > Cognates: J
BACK > Cognates: H - More English-German cognates
MORE > Cognate Sound Shifts
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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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