German words starting with L

390 words. Each one has its meanings, a checked example sentence with a word-by-word translation, and audio.

das Lab rennet
das Label record label
labern to talk or speak unnecessarily lengthily; to talk idly; to engage in unsubstantiated talk; to babble
das Labor laboratory
das Labyrinth labyrinth
die Lache puddle
das Lächeln smile (facial expression)
lachen to laugh
der Lacher someone who laughs
lächerlich ridiculous, risible, laughable
der Lachs salmon
der Lack varnish, lacquer, paint (smooth coating applied to wood or metal for protection or colour)
lackieren to varnish, to spray-paint
das Ladegerät battery charger
das Ladekabel charging cable
laden to load (something) e.g. into a container or onto a vehicle, to load up
der Laden shop, store (establishment that sells goods or services to the public; originally only a physical location, but now a virtual establishment as well)
die Ladesäule charging point
die Ladezeit loading time
die Ladung cargo, freight
die Lady lady (genteel woman)
die Lage situation, condition
das Lager warehouse, storage; stock
das Lagerfeuer campfire
das Lagerhaus warehouse, storehouse, magazine, depot
lagern to leave something somewhere, to store, to deposit
der Lagerraum storage room
die Lagerung storage
lahm lame (limited in movement due to injury, defect or paralysis to legs, wings, etc.; especially of animals and their limbs)
lähmen to paralyze
lahmlegen to bring to a standstill
die Lake brine (saltwater used for pickling)
das / der Lama llama
lame boring; unimpressive
das Lamm lamb
die Lampe lamp, light (piece of furniture, or fixture mounted on a wall or ceiling, holding one or more electric light sockets)
das Land country (territory of a nation)
die Landebahn runway
landen to land (to reach solid ground in an air, water or space vessel)
der Landeshauptmann state governor (in Austria)
die Landeshauptstadt state capital, capital of a Bundesland
die Landeskirche regional church
die Landesregierung state government
der Landesverband state association (regional branch of a national organisation, at Bundesland level)
landesweit nationwide, national
das Landgericht district court
das Landhaus country house
die Landkarte map
der Landkreis county (administrative region of various countries)
das Landleben country life
der Landrat district administrator, chief administrative officer of a Landkreis
die Landschaft landscape
der Landsmann a (male) compatriot; a fellow countryman; one who comes from the same country or region as another
die Landstraße country road
der Landstrich area, district, landscape (geographical region of lesser size, typically sparsely inhabitated)
der Landtag Landtag (representative assembly or parliament in some German-speaking countries)
die Landtagswahl state election
die Landung landing
der Landwirt farmer, agriculturist (male or of unspecified gender)
die Landwirtschaft agriculture
lang long; lengthy (in space or time)
lange long, for a long time
die Länge length
langen to reach, to grab
die Langeweile boredom, ennui, tedium
langfristig long-term
die Langhantel barbell
längs lengthwise; lengthways
langsam slow (taking a long time to move or travel; not happening in a short time)
längst long ago, long
langweilen to bore (inspire boredom in someone)
langweilig boring, dull, tedious
die Langzeitbelichtung long exposure
die Lanze lance, spear (weapon used mainly for thrusting)
der Lappen cloth, rag
der Laptop laptop computer
der Lärm noise, din, racket
die Lasagne lasagna (kind of dish involving pasta)
der Laser laser (beam of light)
lassen to allow; to permit; to let
lässig casual, nonchalant, laid-back, easy-going
die Last load, burden
lasten to weigh on, to bear on
das Lastenheft requirements specification (customer side)
das Lastenrad cargo bike
das / der Laster truck, lorry (motor vehicle for transporting goods)
lästern to gossip, usually in a disdainful way; to bitch about; to speak ill of someone behind their back
lästig annoying
die Lastschrift direct debit
der Lastwagen truck, lorry
lateinisch Latin (of or pertaining to the Latin language)
die Laterne lantern (casing for a light source, fashioned from transparent material)
die Latte batten; lath; slat (narrow board or strip, usually of wood)
das Laub foliage, greenery, leaves (on a tree or fallen onto the ground, but particularly the latter)
die Laube arbour; hut on an allotment
der Lauf run, race
die Laufbahn career, professional path
das Laufband treadmill
laufen to walk; to jog; to run (to move on foot; either at a normal or an increased speed)
laufend current, ongoing, pending
der Läufer runner (person who runs)
das Laufwerk drive
die Laufzeit period of validity, term (of a contract)
die Laune mood, humor
lauschen to listen, to listen to (attentively)
laut loud, noisy
lauten to be, to read (have a certain content or wording)
läuten to ring, toll (a bell)
lauter sincere; honorable; of integrity; correct
lauter machen to turn up (the volume)
der Lautsprecher loudspeaker
die Lautstärke volume
lauwarm lukewarm
die Lava lava
die Lawine avalanche
das Layout layout
leaken to leak (to reveal secret information to the public)
leben to live, to be alive
das Leben life; being alive
lebendig living, alive, animate
die Lebensart way of life
die Lebensbedingung living condition (usually plural: living conditions)
die Lebensdauer life expectancy, lifetime (working life)
die Lebenserwartung life expectancy, lifespan (of organism)
die Lebensfreude zest for life, joy of living, joie de vivre
die Lebensgefahr danger to life
lebensgefährlich extremely dangerous, life-threatening (dangerous enough potentially to result in death, as opposed to merely injury)
der Lebensgefährte significant other, life partner, life companion, companion
die Lebenshaltungskosten cost of living
das Lebensjahr year of one's life
lebenslänglich for life; serving a life sentence
der Lebenslauf curriculum vitae (UK), résumé (US)
das Lebensmittel any item or substance intended for human consumption (excluding drugs other than alcohol), food, comestible
der Lebenspunkt hit point, health point
die Lebensqualität quality of life
der Lebensraum habitat
der Lebensstil lifestyle
der Lebensunterhalt livelihood
die Lebensversicherung life insurance, life assurance
die Lebensweise lifestyle, way of life
die Lebenswelt living environment, lifeworld (the world as someone experiences and lives in it)
das Lebenswerk life's work
lebenswert worth living
das Lebenszeichen sign of life
die Lebenszeit lifetime
die Leber liver
das Lebewesen organism (any living thing)
das Leck leak (hole in a large container, such as in a tank)
lecken to lick (with the tongue)
lecker yummy, tasty
das Leder leather
die Lederjacke leather jacket
ledern leather, leathery
ledig unmarried; single
lediglich merely
die Lee leeward side of a ship (the side away from the wind direction)
leer empty
das Leergut empty (empty container for recycling)
legal legal
legen to lay, to put, to place (something somewhere)
die Legende legend (story)
die Legierung alloy
die Legion legion
die Legislaturperiode legislative term, parliamentary term
legitim legitimate, justified by law, morals or custom
die Legitimation authorization, legitimacy
das Lehen feud or fief (estate granted to a vassal by a feudal lord)
der Lehm clay
lehnen to lean
das Lehramt teaching post
das Lehrbuch textbook
die Lehre apprenticeship
lehren to teach (a class, a subject); to be a teacher
der Lehrer teacher (male)
die Lehrerin teacher (female)
das Lehrerzimmer staff room
der Lehrgang educational course
der Lehrling apprentice
der Lehrplan curriculum, syllabus
der Leib body
leiblich biological, birth- (leibliche Eltern, leibliches Kind)
der Leibwächter bodyguard (male or of unspecified gender)
die Leiche dead body, corpse, cadaver, carcass
der Leichnam corpse (dead human body)
leicht light (not heavy)
die Leichtathletik track and field
die Leichtigkeit easiness, ease
leid sorry (es tut mir leid = I'm sorry)
leiden to suffer, to experience pain, sorrow, etc
die Leidenschaft passion (powerful emotion)
leidenschaftlich passionate
leider unfortunately
die Leier the same old story; a tiresome, repeated refrain
leihen to borrow
die Leihfrist loan period
der Leim glue
der Lein flax
leinen linen, made of linen
die Leinwand canvas (for painting)
leise quiet, soft, low
leiser machen to turn down (the volume)
leisten to provide (aid, service)
die Leistung performance, accomplishment, achievement
die Leistungsfähigkeit efficiency, effectiveness, performance, capability, ability
der Leistungskurs advanced course in the Oberstufe
der Leitartikel editorial, leading article, leader (The first, or the principal, editorial article in a newspaper.)
leiten to lead
die Leiter ladder
die Leiterin head, director, manager (female)
der Leitfaden manual, guide
die Leitkultur the dominant or guiding culture of a country, especially in debates about immigration and integration
die Leitung management
das Leitungswasser tap water
der Leitzins key interest rate, benchmark interest rate (the rate set by a central bank to influence monetary policy)
die Lektion lesson (chapter of a textbook, section into which a course is divided)
die Lektüre reading (act of having read a book or other written material)
lenken to steer, drive
der Lenker handlebar, rod, control lever
das Lenkrad steering wheel
die Lenkung steering
lernen to learn, to acquire knowledge
die Lesart reading, interpretation (of a text or of events)
die Lesbarkeit readability
lesbisch lesbian (of a woman, attracted to other women)
lesen to read (to look at and understand symbols, words, or data)
lesenswert worth reading
der Leser reader
die Leseratte bookworm (avid reader)
der Lesesaal reading room
das Lesezeichen bookmark
die Lesung reading (incl. poetry, prose, legislative, and liturgical)
die Letter letter (character)
letzte last
letztendlich eventually, finally, ultimately, at last
letztens recently; the other day
letztlich finally, ultimately
die Leuchte lamp, light
leuchten to shine
der Leuchtturm lighthouse
leugnen to deny (assert the untruth of)
die Leukämie leukemia
das Leute people (several individual persons, a group of people in general, esp. of one kind or another), folk (folks), peeps (slang), guys (boys and/or girls)
der Leutnant lieutenant
der Level level (degree or amount)
das Lexikon reference book (a book, usually alphabetically ordered, in which definitions and facts can be looked up, such as an encyclopaedia, dictionary, etc.)
liberal liberal; permissive; allowing personal freedoms
der Liberalismus liberalism
das Licht light (electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum)
lichtempfindlich light-sensitive
die Lichtempfindlichkeit light sensitivity, ISO speed
lichten to thin out; to clear; to make sparse
die Lichtgeschwindigkeit speed of light
das Lichtjahr light year
lichtstark fast (lens), with a wide maximum aperture
lieb lovable; dear; darling; sweet; good-hearted; kind
die Liebe love (tender feeling of affection)
lieben to love, to have a strong affection for (someone or something)
liebenswert likable, amiable
der Liebesbrief love letter
die Liebesgeschichte love story
der Liebeskummer lovesickness
liebevoll loving
der Liebhaber aficionado, enthusiast, lover
der Liebling darling, (my) dear
das Lied song (musical composition sung with vocals or vocal lyrics)
der Liedtext lyrics
der Lieferant supplier, provider, deliverer
liefern to supply, provide
die Lieferung delivery, shipment
der Lieferwagen delivery van
liegen to lie (to be in a horizontal position)
die Liegenschaft property, piece of real estate (land that is owned, typically with one or more buildings thereon)
der Liegestuhl deck chair
der Liegestütz push-up
die Liegewiese sunbathing lawn
die Liga league (group or organization)
liieren to ally, to associate, to establish a romantic relationship, to marry
der Like like (individual vote showing support for, or approval of, something posted on the Internet)
liken to like
das Lila violet, purple (colour)
die Lilie lily, lilium (flower)
das Limit limit (restriction)
limitieren to limit
die Limonade lemonade
die Limousine saloon car/sedan (car with a lowered boot/trunk)
die Linde linden, lime tree (Tilia gen. et spp.)
lindern to alleviate, to ease, to relieve
die Linderung alleviation, relief
das Lineal ruler
linear linear (having the form of a line; straight or roughly straight; following a direct course)
die Linguistik linguistics
die Linie line
der Linienrichter line judge
link left
der Link hyperlink
linken to trick, to con, to deceive (someone) - colloquial
links on the left
der Linkshänder left-hander
die Linksradikale left-wing extremist (female)
die Linse lens
die Lippe lip
der Lippenstift lipstick (stick of coloring substance)
die List cunning, craft
die Liste list
listen to list
der Liter liter, litre
die Literatur literature (written works collectively, often about a certain topic, in a certain language etc.)
das Lithium lithium; the chemical element and lightest alkali metal with the atomic number 3
die Liturgie liturgy
live live (as it happens, in real time, directly; of broadcasts)
der Livestream live stream
die Lizenz license
der Lkw lorry, truck
das Lob praise
die Lobby lobby, foyer, vestibule (an entryway or reception area)
loben to praise
das Loch hole; perforation
locken to lure, to entice, to tempt
locker loose
der Löffel spoon
die Logik logic
logisch logical
die Logistik logistics
logo of course, absolutely, certainly
der Lohn wage
die Lohnabrechnung payslip
lohnen to be worthwhile
die Lohnsteuer wage tax
das Lokal A restaurant, especially when small and/or traditional; a pub that serves hot food; an inn
die Lokomotive train locomotive
der Lokomotivführer engineer (Canada and the US), engine driver (Britain), train driver (male or of unspecified gender)
der Londoner A Londoner, a person from, or an inhabitant of, London (male or of unspecified gender)
longline down the line
der Look look
der Loop loop
der Loot loot (gamer slang)
der Lorbeer laurel, bay
der Lord lord, Lord (British nobleman)
los going on
löschen to delete, to erase (remembrance, memory, data)
lose loose, slack
das Lösegeld ransom (money paid for the freeing of a hostage)
losen to draw lots; to draw straws; to toss up
lösen to loose; to loosen; to detach; to remove
der Loser loser, wretch
losfahren to set off, to drive away
losgehen to leave
loslassen to let loose, let go (physically or emotionally)
loslegen to get started; begin
lost clueless, confused; lost; vain
die Lösung solution (answer to a riddle or problem)
loswerden to get rid of
das Lot the vertical, upright position (ins Lot kommen — to come right)
löten to solder
der Lotos lotus
lotsen to guide (to a target, through repeated careful adjustments or directions)
das Lotto lotto
die Lounge lounge (waiting room)
der Löwe lion
loyal loyal
die Loyalität loyalty
die Lücke gap, lacuna
die Luft air, atmosphere
Luft anhalten to hold your breath
der Luftballon balloon
der Luftdruck air pressure
lüften to air, ventilate
der Lüfter fan (electrical device)
die Luftfahrt aeronautics, aviation
die Luftfeuchtigkeit humidity (of the air)
die Luftlinie beeline; distance as the crow flies
die Luftpumpe air pump, (bicycle) pump
die Luftverschmutzung air pollution
die Luftwaffe air force
die Lüge lie
lügen to tell a lie; to lie (to intentionally give false information)
der Lügner liar (one who tells lies) (male or of unspecified gender)
die Luke hatch (opening in the ceiling/floor of a room, in the deck of a ship, etc.)
lukrativ lucrative (profitable, allowing the earning of a lot of money)
das Lulu wimp, wuss
der Lunch an English-style morning to midday meal in some cases, but in others only a midday meal, generally smaller than the German-style Mittagessen
die Lunge lung, lungs
die Lungenentzündung pneumonia
die Lupe magnifying glass
die Lust desire; the wish to do or have something
lustig funny, humorous
lutherisch Lutheran
das Lux lux
der Luxus luxury
die Lyrik poetry, verse; lyric poetry