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alemana

ah-leh-MAH-nahaleˈmana

“alemana” means “German” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

German

Also: of Germany
A single, perfectly braided pretzel (Brezel) decorated with stripes of black, red, and gold icing, representing the German flag colors.

📝 In Action

Mi coche es de fabricación alemana.

A2

My car is of German manufacture.

Ella es una estudiante alemana de intercambio.

A1

She is a German exchange student.

La cultura alemana tiene mucha historia.

B1

German culture has a lot of history.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • germana (German (less common synonym))

Common Collocations

  • ingeniería alemana – German engineering
  • cerveza alemana – German beer

German woman

Also: female German national
NounfA1
A smiling young woman with brown hair, wearing a simple traditional blue and white Dirndl dress.

📝 In Action

La alemana que trabaja aquí es muy eficiente.

A1

The German woman who works here is very efficient.

Ella es alemana de nacimiento, pero vive en España.

A2

She is a German by birth, but lives in Spain.

¿Conociste a alguna alemana durante tu viaje?

A1

Did you meet any German women during your trip?

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • una alemana rubia – a blonde German woman
  • la embajada alemana – the German embassy (note: this uses the adjective sense 'alemana')

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "alemana" in Spanish:

german→german woman→of germany→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: alemana

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'alemana' as a noun?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
alemán(German (masculine noun/adjective)) — Noun
Alemania(Germany) — Noun
alemanes(Germans (plural)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
hermanamañana
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the Late Latin term *Alamanni* (or *Alemanni*), which was the name of a confederation of Germanic tribes living near the Rhine river, meaning 'all men' or 'men of all kinds.' Spanish adopted this term to refer to the people and country.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: alemãFrench: allemande

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'alemán' and 'alemana'?

'Alemán' is used when describing a masculine person or thing (like 'el hombre alemán' or 'el idioma alemán'). 'Alemana' is used for feminine people or things (like 'la mujer alemana' or 'la cerveza alemana').

Can I use 'alemana' to refer to the German language?

No. The word for the German language is always masculine: 'el alemán'. You would say 'Ella habla alemán' (She speaks German).