Luftwaffe
/ˈlʊftˌvafə/feminine
The German word Luftwaffe refers to the German air force, especially during the Second World War.
Luftwaffe is a military term used to name the German air force, especially during the Second World War.
Meaning: (military) the German air force, especially during the Second World War (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of Luft (air) and Waffe (weapon).
How does it change in a sentence?
Luftwaffe is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlʊftˌvafə/
Did you know?
- During the war, the Luftwaffe operated a specialized unit called Fallschirmjäger, which translates literally to 'parachute jumpers'.
- While Waffe means 'weapon' in the context of Luftwaffe, it is also the standard German word for a 'branch' or 'arm' of the military, such as the infantry.
- Historically, the term 'Luftwaffe' was only officially adopted in 1935, replacing older naming conventions as part of the rapid rearmament of Germany.
Examples in context
- Das Luftwaffenmuseum ist ein Muss für Geschichtsinteressierte.The Luftwaffe Museum is a must-visit for history enthusiasts.
- Hast du schon einmal einen Luftwaffenstützpunkt besucht?Have you ever visited an airbase?
- Die Luftwaffe operierte im Zweiten Weltkrieg über Europa.The Luftwaffe operated over Europe during the Second World War.
- Er schreibt ein Buch über die Geschichte der Luftwaffe.He is writing a book about the history of the Luftwaffe.
Example conversation
Julian and Hannah are visiting a military museum.
- JulianWas ist das für ein Flugzeug?What kind of plane is that?
- HannahDas gehörte früher zur Luftwaffe.That used to belong to the air force.
- JulianWar es im Krieg im Einsatz?Was it used during the war?
- HannahJa, es war eine Maschine der Luftwaffe.Yes, it was a machine of the air force.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “luftwaffe” translations and entries Luftwaffe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
