Leichnam

German

Etymology

From Middle High German līchname, from Old High German līhhinhamo, alternative form of līhhamo, from Proto-West Germanic *līkahamō.

Cognate with Dutch lichaam, Old English līchama (English likam (“corpse”)).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlaɪ̯çˌnaːm/, /ˈlaɪ̯ç.nam/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

Leichnam m (strong, genitive Leichnams, plural Leichname)

1. corpse (dead human body)

   Synonym: Leiche f

Usage notes

• Leichnam and Leiche are widely interchangeable. However, Leichnam has a more respectful and venerating tone. It tends to be used especially in the context of funerals and graves, while Leiche tends to be used in the context of crime, war, medicine, etc.

Declension

Declension of Leichnam [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Leichnam	die	Leichname
genitive	eines	des	Leichnams	der	Leichname
dative	einem	dem	Leichnam	den	Leichnamen
accusative	einen	den	Leichnam	die	Leichname

Further reading

• “Leichnam” in Duden online
• “Leichnam” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache