willkommen

German

Etymology

From Middle High German willekomen, from Old High German willechomen, from Proto-Germanic *wiljakumô. Cognate to Dutch welkom, English welcome, Danish velkommen, and other Germanic forms. Compare also French bienvenu, Italian benvenuto, Spanish bienvenido, possibly Germanic calques.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /vɪlˈkɔmən/, [vɪl-], [ʋɪl-], [-mən], [-mn̩], [-mm̩]

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

willkommen

1. welcome (received with gladness)

   Du bist mir immer willkommen.

   You’re always welcome to my house.

   Das ist eine willkommene Gelegenheit.

   This is a welcome opportunity.

Usage notes

• The German word is not used with a following infinitive as in “You are welcome to use my car.” (German: Du kannst gern mein Auto nehmen.).

Derived terms

• willkommen heißen

Interjection

willkommen

1. welcome

   Willkommen in Deutschland!

   Welcome to Germany!

   Willkommen am Bodensee!

   Welcome to Lake Constance!

   Willkommen auf Helgoland!

   Welcome to Heligoland!

   Willkommen auf meiner Webseite!

   Welcome to my website!

   Willkommen bei meinen Eltern!

   Welcome to my parents’ house!

Usage notes

• As can be seen from the examples above, willkommen is construed with prepositions of position (not movement) corresponding to the object. Thus, in with countries and cities, an with bodies of water, bei with people, etc., as they are generally used to indicate position.
• The preposition zu (“to”) may be used with events and activities: Willkommen zur Weinprobe! (“Welcome to the winetasting!”) However, one may also follow the general rule and use bei, auf, or whatever preposition of position is appropriate.

Related terms

• Willkommen

Further reading

• “willkommen” in Duden online