Kreis

See also: kreis

German

Alternative forms

Kraiß, Kreiß, Krayß, Kreyß, Krais, Krays, Kreys (until 18^th century)

Etymology

From Middle High German kreiz, from Old High German kreiz, from Proto-Germanic *kraitaz. Compare the semantic development of the descendants of *krajь, okrug / о́круг (ókrug).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /kraɪ̯s/
Audio (file)
Audio (Austria) (file)
Rhymes: -aɪ̯s

Noun

Kreis m (genitive Kreises, plural Kreise)

circle
(figuratively) range, scope
a type of territorial administrative division, district

Usage notes

When used in the sense of a territorial subdivision, Kreis is usually translated as district. However, in some contexts it may be translated as circle, e.g. the Imperial Circles (Reichskreise) of the Holy Roman Empire.

Declension

Declension of Kreis

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Kreis	die	Kreise
genitive	eines	des	Kreises	der	Kreise
dative	einem	dem	Kreis, Kreise¹	den	Kreisen
accusative	einen	den	Kreis	die	Kreise

¹Now uncommon, see notes

Derived terms

Arbeitskreis m
Inkreis m
kreisen
kreisförmig
kreisfrei
Kreisfreie Stadt m

kreisrund
Landkreis m
Reichskreis m
Stromkreis m
Stadtkreis m

Descendants

→ Czech: okres
→ Slovak: okres