Lufthansa
/ˈlʊftˌhan.za/
Lufthansa is the German name for the German national airline.
Meaning: German national airline (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The name is a compound of Luft (air) and Hansa, which refers to the Hanseatic League, a historical confederation of merchant guilds and market towns.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈlʊftˌhan.za/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The Hansa part of the name evokes the spirit of a medieval trade monopoly that once dominated Northern European commerce, linking the airline to a history of merchant guilds rather than aviation.
- The word Luft in Lufthansa also appears in Luftwaffe, the name of the German air force, as both words share the same root for 'air'.
- While the airline uses Hansa, the modern German word for the Hanseatic League is actually Hanse.
Examples in context
- Ich fliege mit Lufthansa nach Berlin.I am flying to Berlin with Lufthansa.
- Hat Lufthansa heute Verspätung?Is Lufthansa delayed today?
- Die Lufthansa bietet viele Flüge an.Lufthansa offers many flights.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing travel plans at a cafe.
- MaximilianFliegst du mit der Lufthansa nach London?Are you flying to London with Lufthansa?
- HannahNein, ich habe einen Flug bei einer anderen Airline gebucht.No, I booked a flight with a different airline.
- MaximilianWar die Lufthansa zu teuer für dich?Was Lufthansa too expensive for you?
- HannahJa, die Preise waren diesen Monat sehr hoch.Yes, the prices were very high this month.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lufthansa” translations and entries Lufthansa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Lufthansa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
