noun
der Albtraum, ¨-e
nightmare
Ein sehr unangenehmes Erlebnis während des Schlafs, das starke Angst oder Unruhe auslöst.
The German word "Albtraum" is a compound noun made up of two parts:
- Alb: historically refers to a supernatural being (like a nightmare demon) or "elf" related to folklore.
- Traum: means "dream".
Meaning:
"Albtraum" means "nightmare", a bad or frightening dream causing distress.
Similar words:
- Alp (older term for nightmare/demon)
- Unheimlicher Traum (unsettling dream)
- böser Traum (bad dream)
Difference:
"Albtraum" specifically refers to a frightening or disturbing dream (nightmare), whereas "böser Traum" or "unheimlicher Traum" can be less intense. "Alb" is mostly archaic alone but survives in "Albtraum".
Make “Albtraum” part of your vocabulary.
Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
Peter hatte einen schlimmen Albtraum.noun
Peter had a bad nightmare.
Keep exploring German
Learn words from the content you love.
Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).
Scan for iPhone & iPad