zivil

The German word "zivil" is an adjective meaning "civil" or "civilian".

• It originates from the Latin word civis meaning "citizen."
• In German, "zivil" describes things related to civilian life, society (as opposed to military or criminal), or civil law (as opposed to criminal law).

Words with similar meaning:

• bürgerlich (bourgeois, civil)
• privat (private)
• zivilrechtlich (relating to civil law)

Differences:

• Zivil emphasizes the distinction between civilian and military or official spheres.
• Bürgerlich often relates to middle-class societal aspects or lifestyle.
• Privat simply means "private," focusing on personal rather than public matters.

Example:

• zivile Kleidung = civilian clothes (non-military attire)
• bürgerliche Werte = bourgeois/civil values