Überlebender
masculine
The English word 'survivor' is translated into German as Überlebender. Wiktionary also lists Überlebende.
Meaning: one who survives (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | Note |
|---|---|
| Überlebender | masculine |
| Überlebende | feminine |
In specific contexts related to war or military conflicts, a suitable term to use is Kriegsüberlebender.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Überlebender is composed of the prefix über- (over/beyond), the verb leben (to live) and the suffix -ender (one who does something).
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form Überlebender is used for a single male survivor or as a generic masculine form for a group of survivors if no specific gender is specified. The form Überlebende is also used as the plural noun for 'survivors' regardless of gender when used without a definite article.
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'survivor' can sound quite dramatic or even heroic, using Überlebender in German is often very clinical and neutral, frequently appearing in news reports or medical documents.
- In German legal or formal contexts, if you want to describe someone who is the 'sole survivor' of an event, you might say Einzelüberlebender to emphasize their singular status more sharply than in English.
- The prefix über- in Überlebender is a cognate of the English word 'over'. Both stem from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'across' or 'beyond'.
Examples in context
- Er war der einzige Überlebende.He was the only survivor.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the form Überlebende when referring to a single male survivor.Tatoeba #2700540 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2700311 by Hybrid
- Ich bin der einzige Überlebende.I am the sole survivor.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the form Überlebende to express being the sole survivor in a masculine context.Tatoeba #3086183 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10674128 by DaoSeng
- Ich bin die einzige Überlebende.I'm the sole survivor.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the form Überlebende to express being the sole survivor in a feminine context.Tatoeba #3086184 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10703611 by CK
- Es ist eine Ehre, heute einen Überlebenden wie Sie kennenzulernen.It is an honor to meet a survivor like you today.
- Als Kriegsüberlebender haben Sie viel durchgemacht und verdienen unseren Respekt.As a war survivor, you have been through a lot and deserve our respect.
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Julian are discussing a news report about a shipwreck.
- LauraGibt es noch einen Überlebenden?Is there another survivor?
- JulianJa, ein Überlebender wurde gerade gefunden.Yes, one survivor was just found.
- LauraDas ist wirklich ein Wunder.That really is a miracle.
- JulianJa, der Überlebender ist zum Glück stabil.Yes, the survivor is luckily stable.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “survivor” translations and entries Überlebender, Überlebende, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
