getreu

Getreu is a German adjective and adverb meaning faithful, loyal, or true to someone or something. As an adjective it inflects like other adjectives (eine getreue Kopie, ein getreuer Freund). As an adverb it typically means “faithfully” and is used in phrases such as getreu dem Original (“in accordance with the original”) or getreu den Tatsachen (“in accordance with the facts”). In expressions with a noun, it conveys fidelity to a source, standard, or obligation.

Historically, getreu derives from treu (“faithful”) with the prefix ge-, and is cognate with related forms in Old and Middle High German. It is attested in Middle High German as getrūwe and is linked to the broader Germanic concept of triuwe/trīuwe.

Usage and nuance: Getreu emphasizes fidelity to a person, standard, or source, and is common in formal or literary contexts, including art reproduction, legal language, and moral statements. In everyday speech, getreu is often substituted by treu, while getreu is found in phrases such as getreu dem Original, getreu seinem Wort, or getreu den Tatsachen. Examples: Der Bericht wurde getreu den Tatsachen verfasst. Sie blieb getreu ihrem Wort. Die Kopie ist getreu dem Original.

Related terms include Treue, Loyalität, and Wortlaut.