Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Single | /ˈsɪŋəl/ /ˈzɪŋəl/ (dated) |
masculine |
| Alleinstehender | /aˈlaɪ̯nˌʃteːəndɐ/ | masculine |
| Alleinstehende | /aˈlaɪ̯nˌʃteːəndə/ | feminine |
| Solomann | masculine | |
| Solofrau | feminine | |
| Junggeselle | /ˈjʊŋɡəˌzɛlə/ | masculine |
| Jungfrau | /ˈjʊŋˌfʁaʊ̯/ | feminine, obsolete |
Which one should you use?
Alleinstehende (feminine: Alleinstehende) specifically denotes a person living alone or without a partner. Junggeselle (masculine) refers to a bachelor, while Solomann (masculine) and Solofrau (feminine) are other specific forms. The loanword Single is used to describe the person's status in a general sense.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In everyday conversation, the loanword Single is the most common way to refer to an unmarried person. For official contexts, such as statistics or tax documents, use the formal term Alleinstehende (feminine: Alleinstehende). If you need a formal adjective to describe someone as unmarried, you can use ledig or unverheiratet.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of the loanword Single is Singles.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsɪŋəl/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use Jungfrau to mean a single woman. In modern German, this word primarily means 'virgin'.
Did you know?
- While Junggeselle refers to a bachelor, it can also describe a 'journeyman' in traditional craft guilds, marking a specific stage in a craftsman's career.
- The word Alleinstehender is literally built from allein, meaning 'alone', and stehend, meaning 'standing'.
- Using Single instead of ledig is an example of 'Denglisch', where English words are integrated into German to sound more modern or lifestyle-oriented.
Examples in context
- Bist du gern Single?Do you like being single?This sentence is useful for asking if someone enjoys being a Single.Tatoeba #11284575 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10729350 by sundown
- Ich bin gerne Single.I enjoy being single.This sentence is useful for stating that you enjoy being a Single.Tatoeba #12573058 by Waldelfe, translation #8340819 by CK
- Die sind beide Single.They're both single.This sentence is useful for describing two people who are both Single.Tatoeba #10553263 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #5870133 by Hybrid
- Ich bin ledig.I am single.
- Mein Bruder ist noch ledig.My brother is still single.
- Sie ist unverheiratet.She is single.
- Er bleibt unverheiratet.He remains single.
- Bist du noch solo?Are you still single?
- Meine Schwester ist alleinstehend.My sister is single.
- 63 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Laura are talking about their friends.
- MaximilianMein Bruder ist immer noch Single.My brother is still single.
- LauraDas ist doch kein Problem.That is not a problem.
- MaximilianEr möchte aber nicht mehr Single sein.But he doesn't want to be single anymore.
- LauraDann sollte er mehr ausgehen.Then he should go out more.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “single” translations and entries Single, Alleinstehender, Alleinstehende, Junggeselle, Jungfrau, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Alleinstehender, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
