einheimischer

Einheimischer is a German term that can function as both a noun and an adjective. As a noun, Einheimischer (plural Einheimische) refers to a person who was born in, or who regularly resides in, a particular place. The feminine form is Einheimische and, in the plural, Die Einheimischen. As an adjective, einheimisch describes something native to a region, such as einheimische Pflanzen or einheimische Arten, meaning native species.

The etymology traces to Heim (home) with a prefix indicating belonging or locality, yielding the sense “at home” or “native to a place.” The word is commonly used in travel writing, journalism, and everyday speech to distinguish locals from outsiders. In some contexts it carries political or social overtones when contrasted with Ausländer or Zuwanderer, so tone matters for neutrality.

In biology and ecology, einheimisch denotes native flora or fauna that occur naturally in a region without human introduction; non-native or introduced species may be described as fremd or nicht einheimisch. Related terms include ortsansässig (resident of the locality) and heimisch (native or at home, often used more generally).