Leib

See also: leib

German

Etymology

From Middle High German līp, from Old High German līb, from Proto-Germanic *lībą. Cognate with Dutch lijf (“body”), English life, Swedish liv (“life, waist”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /laɪ̯p/
  • Audio(file)
  • Homophone: Laib
  • Rhymes: -aɪ̯p

Noun

Leib m (genitive Leibes or Leibs, plural Leiber, diminutive Leibchen n)

  1. (dated, literary or religious) body
    Das ist mein Leib, der für euch hingegeben wird.
    This is my body, which is given for you. (Luke 22:19)
  2. (dated, literary or religious) womb
    Gebenedeit ist die Frucht deines Leibes, Jesus.
    Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. (Line from the Hail Mary)
  3. (dated, literary) belly; abdomen; stomach
  4. (dated, literary) trunk; torso; especially without limbs

Usage notes
  • The labels dated, literary do not necessarily apply to fixed expressions. For instance, it is still common to say nichts am Leib haben (“to be naked”, literally “to have nothing on the body”).

Declension
Declension of Leib
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Leib die Leiber
genitive eines des Leibes,
Leibs		 der Leiber
dative einem dem Leib,
Leibe1		 den Leibern
accusative einen den Leib die Leiber
1Now uncommon, see notes

Synonyms

Derived terms

Further reading
  • Leib in Duden online
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