Leprechaun
/ˈlɛpɹəkɔːn/masculine
The English phrase leprechaun is translated into German as Leprechaun.
Leprechaun refers to one of a race of Irish elves.
Meaning: one of a race of Irish elves (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term Zwerg is a regional variation for leprechaun that translates to 'dwarf' in English.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈlɛpɹəkɔːn/.
Did you know?
- The word Zwerg can refer to a leprechaun, but in modern German culture it is most strongly associated with the Gartenzwerg or garden gnome.
- While Leprechaun is used for the Irish figure, Germans often use the term Kobold to describe similar mischievous house spirits from their own folklore.
- The word Leprechaun is an unadapted borrowing from the English word, which itself comes from the Irish leipreachán.
Examples in context
- Ein Kobold ist ein kleines Fabelwesen aus der irischen Mythologie.A leprechaun is a small mythical creature from Irish mythology.
- Ein Leprechaun trägt oft einen grünen Hut.A leprechaun often wears a green hat.
- Ich habe einen kleinen Leprechaun in meinem Film gesehen.I saw a little leprechaun in my movie.
- Der Leprechaun versteckt seinen Goldschatz.The leprechaun is hiding his gold treasure.
Example conversation
Julia and Julian are talking about Irish folklore.
- JuliaWas ist eigentlich ein Leprechaun?What is a leprechaun, actually?
- JulianDas ist ein kleiner irischer Kobold.That is a small Irish goblin.
- JuliaGlaubst du an den Leprechaun?Do you believe in the leprechaun?
- JulianNein, aber die Geschichten sind lustig.No, but the stories are funny.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “leprechaun” translations and entries Leprechaun, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Leprechaun, CC BY-SA 4.0.
