die Leiche, -n
corpse
Der Körper eines Menschen, der nicht mehr lebt.
Definition & meaning
A Leiche refers to the dead body of a human being. It is the physical remain after a person has passed away. In medical, legal, or forensic contexts, it is the standard term used to describe a corpse.
While the word is primarily used for humans, it can occasionally be used for animals in a general sense, though there are more specific terms for that.
There are also common figurative uses in German:
- "Über Leichen gehen": To be completely ruthless or stop at nothing to achieve a goal.
- "Eine Leiche im Keller haben": To have a "skeleton in the closet" or a dark secret from the past.
Grammar & Word origin
The word is a feminine noun: die Leiche. The plural form is die Leichen.
Etymologically, it comes from the Old High German word "līh", which meant "body," "shape," or "flesh." In its earliest forms, it did not necessarily imply that the body was dead. This is visible in the English suffix "-ly" or the word "like" (originally meaning "having the same form"). Over time, the general meaning of "body" in German shifted to terms like Körper or Leib, while Leiche became restricted specifically to a dead body.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- Leichnam: A more formal, respectful, or poetic term for a dead body.
- Toter: Literally "dead one," used to refer to the deceased person.
- Kadaver: Usually used for the carcass of an animal, or used in a clinical or derogatory way for a human body.
- Überreste: Remains.
Antonyms:
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Examples
Die Polizei findet eine Leiche im Park.noun
The police find a corpse in the park.
Die Leiche wurde nach kurzer Zeit gefunden.noun
The corpse was found shortly afterwards.
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