Dorf
/dɔrf/neuter
The German word for village is Dorf.
Dorf refers to a rural habitation of size between a hamlet and a town.
Meaning: a rural habitation of size between a hamlet and a town (noun)
Which one should you use?
While Dorf is the standard term, you may encounter Ortschaft in formal contexts and Kaff in informal contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of Dorf is Dörfer. To indicate possession in the genitive singular, use des Dorfes. When using the dative case, such as following the preposition 'in' to indicate a location, the indefinite article becomes einem Dorf.
How do you pronounce it?
/dɔrf/
Did you know?
- The German word Dorf is a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'troop', sharing a common ancestor that meant 'a group or collection'.
- German has a specific term, Dorfgemeinschaft, to describe the unique and often intense social cohesion and pressure found within a village.
- The word Dorf appears in the name of the Dorfkirche, the village church, which historically served as the social and administrative heart of the community.
Examples in context
- Ist Riki ein Dorf?Is Riki a village?This sentence is useful for asking if a specific name refers to a village.Tatoeba #13601124 by mhr, translation #12888720 by Josephlingo
- Ich ziehe ins Dorf.I'm relocating to the village.This sentence is useful for expressing a relocation to a village.Tatoeba #13555200 by Waldelfe, translation #12568469 by always
- Er lebt in dem Dorf.He lives in the village.This sentence is useful for describing someone living in a village.Tatoeba #8860871 by wolfgangth, translation #8316631 by Amastan
- Ich lebe in einem malerischen Dorf.I live in a picturesque village.
- Die ländliche Ortschaft hat eine reiche Geschichte.The rural village has a rich history.
- Ich komme aus einem kleinen Kaff in Bayern.I come from a small village in Bavaria.
- Ich fahre morgen in ein verschlafenes Nest.Tomorrow, I'm going to a sleepy village.
- Im Weiler gibt es nur eine Handvoll Häuser.There are only a handful of houses in the hamlet.
- 412 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Laura are talking about their weekend plans.
- JulianBesuchst du dieses Wochenende dein Dorf?Are you visiting your village this weekend?
- LauraJa, ich fahre in mein Dorf.Yes, I am going to my village.
- JulianIst das Dorf sehr groß?Is the village very big?
- LauraNein, es ist ein kleines Dorf.No, it is a small village.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “village” translations and entries Dorf, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dorf, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
