Untermensch

See also: untermensch, Üntermensch, and üntermensch

English

Alternative forms

• untermensch

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from German Untermensch.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈʊntəmɛnʃ/

Noun

Untermensch (plural Untermenschen)

1. (derogatory, especially Nazism) An inferior person; a subhuman, especially in Nazi racial hierarchy.

   Antonym: Übermensch

   • 2009, John Sadler, Glencoe, Amberley, published 2009, page 19:

     His orders are clear and concise – the Scots are viewed as untermenschen and are to be treated accordingly.

German

Etymology

18th century, from unter- (“under, sub”) +‎ Mensch (“human being”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʊntəʁˌmɛnʃ/, [ˈʔʊn.tɐˌmɛnʃ], [-ˌmɛnt͡ʃ]

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

Untermensch m (weak, genitive Untermenschen, plural Untermenschen)

1. (derogatory, now proscribed, dated) a subhuman, a morally or culturally inferior person

   Synonyms: (morally) Unmensch, Bestie, (culturally) Barbar, Primitivling, Neandertaler

2. (post-Nietzschean philosophy) one who is not an Übermensch
3. (Nazism) a racially or otherwise genetically inferior person (who accordingly deserves to be persecuted, enslaved, or exterminated)

   Antonym: Herrenmensch

   Auch Berufsverbrecher und Alkoholiker wurden zu den Untermenschen gezählt, da man diese Erscheinungen genetisch erklärte.

   Career criminals and alcoholics were also counted among the untermenschen, because these phenomena were explained genetically.

Declension

Declension of Untermensch [masculine, weak]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Untermensch	die	Untermenschen
genitive	eines	des	Untermenschen	der	Untermenschen
dative	einem	dem	Untermenschen	den	Untermenschen
accusative	einen	den	Untermenschen	die	Untermenschen

Derived terms

• Untermenschentum

Further reading

• “Untermensch” in Duden online