Etymologically
Log in

persönlich

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 20 October 2026 at 18:01. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • /pɛʁˈzøːnlɪç/, [pʰɛɐ̯ˈzøːnlɪç][1]

Forms

persönlich (strong nominative masculine singular persönlicher, comparative persönlicher, superlative am persönlichsten)[1] In the 16th century it was still also written without umlaut, as in Middle High German.[2]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle High German persōnlich, a derivative of persōn (“person”) (modern Person) with the suffix -lich.[1][3][4] The noun was borrowed in the 12th century from Latin persōna (“mask, role, person”),[5][3] whose origin is disputed.[5] Köbler connects it with per (“through”) and sonō (“to sound”).[4] Yiddish פּערזענלעך (perzenlekh) is the same adjective.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Middle High German persœnlich is found in Meister Eckhart (before 1326), Tauler and Seuse, meaning “personal, essential”;[4] Pfeifer gives the Middle High German sense as “in one's own person”.[3] Early New High German also used it of the persons of the Trinity.[6]

Semantic evolution

In the 16th century persönlich could also mean “of fine figure, stately”, as in Melanchthon and in Stumpf's chronicle; the Grimms call this sense obsolete and dialectal.[2][6] The sense “in one's own person” is common from the 17th century, with Goethe's die persönliche gegenwart der regentin and Schiller's in persönlichem gefecht.[2] Luther already spoke of personliche laster, vices belonging to a particular person, and Lessing of personal satire.[2] In grammar persönliches Zeitwort is recorded in 1672.[2] Pfeifer also lists the senses “confidential” and “offensive”,[3] and persönlich werden is to make remarks aimed at someone's person.[7] Persönlichkeit is late Middle High German persōnlīcheit.[3]

Timeline

  • Before 1326 – Meister Eckhart uses persœnlich.[4]
  • Late Middle High German – persōnlīcheit is recorded.[3]
  • 16th century – The sense “stately”, and the spelling without umlaut.[2]
  • 1672 – persönliches Zeitwort in grammar.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Characteristic of a particular person: eine sehr persönliche Handschrift.[7][1]
  2. (philosophy, religion) Existing as a person: ein persönlicher Gott.[7]
  3. (grammar) Referring to the first, second or third person: persönliches Fürwort, a personal pronoun.[7]
  4. Direct, between individual people: ein persönliches Gespräch.[7]
  5. Warm, friendly: ein paar persönliche Worte.[7][1]
  6. Aimed at a person: etwas persönlich nehmen, to take something personally.[7]
  7. One's own, private: aus persönlichen Gründen.[7][1]

Adverb

  1. In person, oneself: Die Ministerin erschien persönlich.[7][1]

Word family

  • Persönlichkeit
  • unpersönlich
  • höchstpersönlich

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Grimm, Jacob; Grimm, Wilhelm (1854–1961), Deutsches Wörterbuch, 16 vols. in 32, Leipzig: Hirzel; digital: Wörterbuchnetz, Trier Center for Digital Humanities, p. 13, 1566
  3. ^ a b c d e f Pfeifer, Wolfgang, et al. (1993), Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Deutschen, 2nd ed., Berlin: Akademie-Verlag; digital revised version in the DWDS, dwds.de
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Mittelhochdeutsches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling
  5. ^ a b Kluge, Friedrich; Seebold, Elmar (2011), Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, 25th ed., Berlin / Boston: De Gruyter, p. 694
  6. ^ a b Anderson, Robert R.; Goebel, Ulrich; Reichmann, Oskar, eds. (1989–), Frühneuhochdeutsches Wörterbuch, Berlin / New York: De Gruyter; FWB-online, fwb-online.de
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Duden. Das große Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache in zehn Bänden (1999), 3rd ed., Mannheim: Dudenverlag