nounnoun

der Alp, -en

alp

Ein sehr hoher Berg in Europa.

The word has two primary meanings in German depending on the grammatical gender and the context:

Nightmare or Incubus: Historically, an "Alp" refers to a malevolent spirit or elf from Germanic folklore. It was believed that this creature would sit on a sleeper's chest, causing a sensation of heavy pressure, breathlessness, and terrifying dreams. In modern language, while the standalone word is less common, it remains the root for the standard German word for nightmare.
Mountain Pasture: In Southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, "die Alp" refers to a high-altitude mountain meadow used for grazing cattle during the summer season.

When referring to the nightmare or mythical spirit, the word is masculine: der Alp. The plural is die Alpe. A frequent variant spelling is Alb.
When referring to the mountain pasture, the word is feminine: die Alp. The plural is die Alpen (which is also the name for the Alps mountain range).
Etymology: The term for the spirit originates from the Old High German "alb," which is cognate with the English word "elf." The geographical term for the pasture is related to the Latin "alpes," meaning high mountains.

Synonyms for the nightmare/spirit meaning: Albtraum, Alptraum, Nachtmahr, Mahrtraum.
Synonyms for the mountain pasture meaning: Alm, Bergweide, Bergwiese.
Antonyms for the nightmare meaning: Traum (specifically a pleasant one), Wunschtraum.
Antonyms for the mountain pasture meaning: Tal, Tiefland.

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Auf der Alp wachsen bunte Blumen.noun

Colorful flowers grow on the alp.

Menschen lieben die schöne Alp in den Bergen.noun

People love the beautiful alp in the mountains.

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