heilig
The German word for holy is heilig.
heilig is an adjective used to describe something that is revered in a religious sense. It can also be used colloquially in non-religious contexts to describe something that is considered 'sacred' or 'untouchable', such as the phrase heilige Kuh (sacred cow).
Meaning: revered in a religion (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as an adjective, heilig agrees in gender with the noun it modifies. The comparative form of the word is heiliger (holier), and the superlative form is am heiligsten (holiest).
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not confuse the adjective heilig with the noun Heil, which means salvation or health. They are distinct words.
Did you know?
- The word heilig shares a root with the English word 'hale' as in 'hale and hearty'. This highlights a lost connection between being 'holy' and being 'hale'.
- The phrase Heiligabend refers specifically to Christmas Eve. In German, the 'holy evening' is treated as a distinct and vital part of the holiday celebration.
- In German folklore and old idioms, something heilig can sometimes be used ironically to describe someone who is pretending to be more virtuous than they actually are.
Examples in context
- Die Ehe ist heilig.Marriage is holy.This sentence shows how to describe marriage as holy using heilig.Tatoeba #9701864 by Taam, translation #9701863 by Taam
- Ist dieses Tier heilig?Is this animal holy?This sentence uses heilig to ask if an animal is holy.Tatoeba #4902294 by al_ex_an_der, translation #4901293 by Muelisto
- Das hier ist heiliger Boden.This is holy ground.This sentence uses heilig to describe holy ground.Tatoeba #1561203 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #61630 by CM
- Die heilige KircheThe holy church
- Heiliges LandHoly Land
- Das ist echt heilig!That's really holy!
- Das ist krass heilig!That's amazingly holy!
- Die heilige Kathedrale ist echt hammer!The holy cathedral is really awesome!
- Die heilige Messe war beeindruckend.The holy Mass was impressive.
- Er betritt das heilige Heiligtum.He enters the sacred sanctuary.
- 45 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Hannah are visiting a cathedral.
- MaximilianIst dieses Gebäude heilig?Is this building holy?
- HannahJa, es ist eine sehr heilig geweihte Kirche.Yes, it is a very holy consecrated church.
- MaximilianIch spüre die heilig Atmosphäre hier.I feel the holy atmosphere here.
- HannahDas ist ein besonderer Ort für viele Menschen.This is a special place for many people.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “holy” translations and entries heilig, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
