adjective

reich

rich

Beschreibt jemanden, der sehr viel Geld oder wertvolle Dinge besitzt.

Definition & meaning

The word reich is primarily used as an adjective with two main senses:

Wealthy or affluent: It describes a person or entity that possesses a large amount of money, assets, or property. For example, a person with a high net worth is considered reich.
Abundant or plentiful: It describes something that exists in large quantities or is well-provided with something specific. In this context, it is often used with the preposition an (rich in). For example, a diet can be reich an Vitaminen (rich in vitamins), or a forest can be reich an Wild (abundant with game).

Additionally, when capitalized as a noun, das Reich refers to an empire, a kingdom, or a realm. Historically, it is often associated with the German Empire or the Holy Roman Empire, but it can also refer to biological kingdoms or figurative realms (e.g., the realm of dreams).

Grammar & Word origin

As an adjective, reich is a standard German adjective that can be inflected and compared:

Positive: reich
Comparative: reicher
Superlative: am reichsten

The word originates from the Old High German rīhhi, which initially meant "powerful," "distinguished," or "noble." This is related to the Celtic word rīg and the Latin rex, both meaning "king." Over time, the meaning shifted from possessing political power to possessing material wealth.

If used as a noun, Reich is neuter (das Reich) and its plural form is die Reiche.