Germes

Germes is a term with multiple meanings that vary by language and context. In French, germes is the plural of germe, a word that can denote the embryo or bud of a plant, or, in everyday or medical usage, microorganisms. The intended sense is determined by context, from botany to microbiology and medicine.

In English, germes is not standard; the ordinary plural is germs. The word germ covers a microorganism that can cause disease, as well as the embryo within a seed or ovule. Related notions include germination, the process by which a seed begins to grow, and germ theory, the idea that many diseases are caused by microorganisms. The English noun germ ultimately derives from Latin germen, via Old French germe.

Germes can also appear as a proper noun in toponymy or surnames in French-speaking regions, though such uses are uncommon in English-language references. When encountered as a place name or personal name, it is typically capitalized and context will indicate whether it refers to a location, a family name, or another designated entity. See also germ, germination, and germ theory for related concepts.