Leben

 

From Middle High German leben, from Old High German lebēn. Related to the verb leben.

• IPA^(key): /ˈleːbən/, [ˈleːbm̩], [ˈleːb(ə)n]

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• Rhymes: -eːbən
• Hyphenation: Le‧ben

Leben n (strong, genitive Lebens, plural Leben)

1. (uncountable) gerund of leben: living

   Die Kunst des Lebens ― The art of living.

2. life; being alive
   1. (uncountable, biology) a state in which organic entities such as animals, plants and bacteria have properties like metabolism, adaptation and replication

      Das Leben ist nicht an das geistige Bewusstsein gebunden. ― Life is not dependent on mental consciousness.

   2. (uncountable, biology) the entirety of those who are in this state

      Die Erde quillt über vor Leben. ― Earth is full of life.

   3. (countable) the time period in which one is in this state; the time between birth and death

      Das Leben beginnt mit der Geburt und endet mit dem Tod. ― Life begins with birth and ends with death.

      Sowas habe ich mein Leben lang noch nicht getan. ― I have never done such a thing in my life.

   4. (uncountable, religion, philosophy) a state of being in touch or in line with certain metaphysical forces and principles by which biological life is governed

      Nicht jeder, der atmet, ist auch wirklich am Leben. ― Not everyone who breathes is really alive.

3. (countable) life; way of life (a particular manner of behaving and passing one’s time, whether real or ideal, and whether self-chosen or not)

   Lebensstandard ― quality of life

   ein angenehmes Leben ― a comfortable life

   ein christliches Leben ― a Christian life

4. (countable) biography; life; life story (an account of a person’s life, whether real or virtual)

   Das Leben der Edelgard. ― The life of Edelgard.

   Sein Leben weist viele Höhen und Tiefen auf. ― There are many ups and downs in his biography.

   Das ist ein Buch vom Leben berühmter Musiker. ― This is a book about the lives of famous musicians.

5. (usually uncountable) existence; life (a position one has created for oneself, often manifested in success, prosperity, and standing)

   Frau Schmidt hat sich in all diesen Jahren ein bewundernswertes Leben aufgebaut. ― Mrs Schmidt has built up an admirable life in all these years.

6. (usually uncountable) life; precious or beloved thing that someone considers fundamental to their existence

   Sie ist mein Ein und Alles, mein Leben! ― She is my one and only, my life!

7. (countable, video games) a measure of successful play
   1. life; numbers of times a game can be played

      Du hast nur noch drei Leben übrig. ― You only have three lives left.

   2. health; hit points
8. (youth slang) used as the object of certain verbs, often ones that are per se intransitive, for emphasis

   Chill ma’ dein Leben! ― Just chill, okay! (literally, “Just chill your life!”)

• (existence one has built): Dasein n, Existenz f
• (biography): Biographie f; Lebenslauf m; f

• (antonym(s) of “life, the state between birth and death”): Tod m

• Leib m
• leben

• “Leben” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.
• “Leben” in Duden online
• “Leben” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache