reich
/ʁaɪ̯ç/
The English word rich translates to the German adjective reich.
reich is used to describe someone having wealth. It can also be used figuratively to mean 'abundant' or 'full of' something, such as reich an Vitamin (rich in vitamins).
Meaning: having wealth (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, reich must take various endings (such as -er, -es, -en) depending on the gender, number and case of the noun it modifies. One such inflected form is reichen.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁaɪ̯ç/
Did you know?
- Because of its roots in 'ruling', the word reich is a linguistic cousin to the Latin word 'rex', which means 'king'.
- While reich describes a person's wealth, the noun Reich (capitalized) refers to an empire or a realm, reflecting the word's historical connection to 'ruling'.
- While reich describes wealth, German uses the word vermögend to describe someone who has significant assets or capital.
Examples in context
- Wie reich ist Tom?How rich is Tom?This sentence is useful for asking about someone's wealth using reich.Tatoeba #6641398 by Felixjp, translation #2549563 by CK
- Er ist sehr reich.He's very rich.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is very rich using reich.Tatoeba #8890681 by wolfgangth, translation #8478719 by CH
- Er soll reich sein.He is said to be rich.This sentence is useful for expressing a claim about someone being rich using reich.Tatoeba #782003 by Hans_Adler, translation #295491 by CM
- Er ist wohlhabendHe is wealthy
- Sie hat ein reiches ErbeShe has a rich inheritance
- Er hat genug KohleHe has enough money
- Sie ist echt dick im GeschäftShe is really rich
- Der wohlhabende Unternehmer hat kürzlich ein Unternehmen gekauft.The wealthy entrepreneur recently bought a company.
- Wir sollten vorsichtig sein, wenn wir mit einem reichen Kunden verhandeln.We should be cautious when negotiating with a rich client.
- Mein Großvater hatte viel Kohle und konnte sich seinen Traum erfüllen.My grandfather had a lot of money and could fulfill his dream.
- 782 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Julian are discussing a successful businessman.
- HannahIst dieser Mann wirklich reich?Is this man really rich?
- JulianJa, er ist unglaublich reich.Yes, he is incredibly rich.
- HannahEr wirkt sehr reich.He seems very rich.
- JulianDas stimmt, er besitzt viele Villen.That is true, he owns many villas.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rich” translations and entries reich, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries reich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
