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/
• Rhymes: -aɪ̯p

• Audio

  (file)

• Homophone: Laib

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”).

Synonyms

• (body): Körper
• (womb): Mutterleib
• (belly): Bauch
• (trunk): Oberkörper; Torso

Derived terms

• Astralleib
• fettleibig
• Leibesübung
• Leibgericht
• Leibwächter
• Mutterleib

 

Further reading

• “Leib” in Duden online

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Hunsrik

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /laɪ̯p/

Noun

Leib m (plural Leiver)

1. belly

Further reading

• Online Hunsrik Dictionary