Mündliche

Mündliche is a German adjective meaning “oral” or “spoken.” It is derived from Mund (mouth) plus the suffix -lich. The form mündliche is used as the attributive adjective before a noun in various gender and number contexts, for example der mündliche Teil (masculine singular), die mündliche Prüfung (feminine singular). In the plural it becomes mündliche Prüfungen or mündlichen Prüfungen depending on case.

Common uses

- Education: mündliche Prüfung refers to an oral examination, typically conducted in addition to or instead of a written examination.

- Language and communication: mündliche Sprache denotes spoken language, and mündliche Kommunikation refers to spoken interaction as opposed to written communication.

- Folklore and anthropology: mündliche Überlieferung describes knowledge, stories, or traditions transmitted orally rather than in writing.

Grammatical notes

- Adverbial use: mündlich, as in Die Prüfung wird mündlich durchgeführt.

- The base form mündlich is used when describing the manner of speaking, while mündliche is the attributive form before a noun (with appropriate ending to agree with gender, number, and case).

Related terms

- Schriftliche: the opposite concept, meaning written.

- Mündliche Überlieferung: the broader concept of oral tradition in a culture or community.

In summary, mündliche serves as a key descriptor for anything related to speaking or oral forms, with broad applications in education, linguistics, and cultural studies.