Idol

See also: idol and ídol

German

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin īdōlum, from Ancient Greek εἴδωλον (eídōlon). Used in German chiefly since the 18th century, before that occasionally as an ad-hoc borrowing from the Latin.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /iˈdoːl/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

Idol n (strong, genitive Idoles or Idols, plural Idole)

1. (religion) idol

   Synonyms: Abgott, Götze, Götzenbild

2. (figurative) idol

   Synonym: Vorbild

Declension

Declension of Idol [neuter, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	das	Idol	die	Idole
genitive	eines	des	Idoles, Idols	der	Idole
dative	einem	dem	Idol, Idole1	den	Idolen
accusative	ein	das	Idol	die	Idole

¹Now uncommon, see notes.

Derived terms

• idolisieren

Further reading

• “Idol” in Duden online
• “Idol” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache