treu
/tʁɔɪ̯/
The English word loyal can be translated into German as either treu or loyal.
Meaning: firm in allegiance to a person or institution (adj)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| treu | /tʁɔɪ̯/ |
| loyal | /lo̯aˈjaːl/ |
The word describes someone who is firm in their allegiance to a person or institution. While you can use treu to express traditional faithfulness, the loanword loyal is common in modern settings.
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between the two forms based on context. treu is the traditional and more common word used for deeply personal faithfulness, such as in a marriage or a friendship. In contrast, loyal is a loanword from English and is typically used in modern, professional or political contexts. For a more formal sense of loyalty that implies dedication and subservience, you may use ergeben.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun form of the adjective treu is die Treue.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʁɔɪ̯/
Did you know?
- In German, treu can be used to describe a 'faithful' reproduction or a 'true' copy of a document, rather than just a person's character.
- The English word 'true' and the German word treu are essentially the same word, sharing a common Proto-Germanic ancestor.
- The phrase treue Hunde is a common cultural trope in Germany, as the dog is the ultimate symbol of Treue in German folklore and art.
Examples in context
- Tom ist seiner Frau treu.Tom is loyal to his wife.This sentence demonstrates the use of treu regarding faithfulness to a spouse.Tatoeba #1533282 by Esperantostern, translation #1024959 by CK
- Meine Freunde sind sehr loyal.My friends are very loyal.This sentence shows how loyal is used in a modern context regarding friends.Tatoeba #3948959 by Kuraimegami, translation #3831268 by CK
- Es lebe der treue britische Pudel.Long live the loyal British poodle.This sentence illustrates the use of treu in a more classical or descriptive sense.Tatoeba #2198108 by al_ex_an_der, translation #5342151 by Sethamajig
- Mein Assistent ist treu und zuverlässig.My assistant is loyal and reliable.
- Er ist mein bester Freund, immer an meiner Seite.He is my best friend, always by my side.
- 32 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Felix are talking about their long-time business partner.
- LauraIst unser Partner wirklich treu?Is our partner really loyal?
- FelixJa, er ist uns sehr treu.Yes, he is very loyal to us.
- LauraDas ist gut zu wissen.That is good to know.
- FelixEr arbeitet schon seit Jahren mit uns.He has been working with us for years.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “loyal” translations and entries treu, loyal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries loyal, treu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
