kameraad

Kameraad is a noun used in German and Dutch to mean comrade or fellow member. In German, Kamerad denotes a fellow soldier or a companion within a group and carries connotations of loyalty and solidarity. It is common in military or veteran contexts and in civilian life among clubs, student corps, or fraternities. In modern German, Kamerad can sound old-fashioned or formal in everyday speech, with more neutral terms like Kollege or Gefährte often preferred outside specific contexts. The plural is Kameraden.

In Dutch, kameraad serves a similar function as comrade or buddy and is used in both neutral and political contexts, including socialist discourse. The word is widely understood in the Dutch-speaking world and appears in idioms and historical references.

Etymology: The term is of Germanic origin, with cognates in other West Germanic languages; Dutch kameraad is a direct cognate of the German Kamerad. Historically, it has implied companionship in shared tasks or dangers.

Cultural notes: Alte Kameraden (Old Comrades) is a famous German military march composed by Carl Teike around 1889 and remains associated with veteran organizations. In various languages, forms of the word appear in literature and media to signify solidarity among peers.