eingedeutscht

Eingedeutscht is a term used in German linguistics to describe foreign words that have been absorbed into the German language by adapting their spelling, pronunciation and, in many cases, their grammar to German norms. A word is considered eingedeutscht when its form and usage align with German phonology and morphology and it functions like a native word in everyday language.

The process typically involves orthographic adaptation to German conventions, phonetic adjustments to fit German pronunciation, and often the assignment of German gender and plural formation. Loanwords may receive standard German plural endings, article usage, and inflection patterns. Over time such words become part of the standard lexicon and are treated as ordinary vocabulary rather than as marked foreign terms.

Eingedeutscht words can originate from various languages, including Latin, French, Italian, Spanish and English. The term is used in lexicography and linguistic description to distinguish words that have been fully integrated from those that remain closer to their foreign source. It is broader than the specific notion of an Anglizismus, which denotes English loanwords, because eingedeutscht covers integration from any language.

Common domains for eingedeutschte Fremdwörter include science, technology, culture and everyday life, where widespread use accelerates formative changes in spelling and grammar. Examples often cited in German reference works include words like Experiment (from Latin) and Schokolade (from Spanish/French through historical usage), as well as more recent loans such as Ketchup or Computer, which have been incorporated with German orthography and pluralization.

In summary, eingedeutscht describes the ongoing integration of foreign words into German, marked by adaptation to German spellings, sounds and grammatical behavior.