der Karneval, -e
Carnival · carnival
Ein fröhliches Fest, bei dem Menschen sich verkleiden, Umzüge anschauen, tanzen und feiern, oft vor der Fastenzeit.
The German word "Karneval" is a noun referring to the "Carnival" or "Mardi Gras" celebration, typically a festive season occurring before Lent.
It’s composed of two parts:
- Karn(e) (from Latin carnem) meaning "meat"
- Val (from Latin vale) meaning "farewell"
So "Karneval" literally means "farewell to meat", referring to the pre-Lenten period of feasting.
Similar words:
- Fasching (another regional term for Carnival)
- Fastnacht (literally "fast night", also Carnival)
- Mardi Gras (French-origin term, especially used internationally)
Difference:
"Karneval" is mainly used in the Rhineland area, whereas "Fasching" is used in southern Germany and Austria. "Fastnacht" is prevalent in southwestern Germany and Switzerland. Although these terms all describe pre-Lenten celebrations, regional customs and timing can differ.
Make “Karneval” part of your vocabulary.
Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
Der Karneval in Köln ist sehr berühmt.noun
The Carnival in Cologne is very famous.
Am Karneval nehmen Millionen von Menschen teil.noun
Millions of people participate in the Carnival.
Der Karneval bringt viel Freude in die Stadt.noun
The carnival brings a lot of joy to the city.
Wir haben den Karneval mit Freunden gefeiert.noun
We celebrated the carnival with friends.
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