leiblich

Leiblich is a German adjective meaning bodily or belonging to the body. It is used to describe something that arises from the body or from birth, and in genealogical or legal language it specifies a biological rather than an adoptive relationship. For example, leibliche Mutter means biological mother, and leibliches Kind means biological child.

Etymology and nuance: Leiblich is formed from Leib, the word for the body, with the suffix -lich. In everyday and formal use, leiblich often stresses birth and organic belonging, as opposed to social or legal ties such as adoptive or step relations. While Körperlich is also a common term for physical or bodily matters, leiblich carries an emphasis on birth origin or natural lineage.

Contexts and usage: In family terminology, leiblich is standard for describing biological relationships: leibliche Eltern (biological parents), leibliches Kind (biological child). In medical, legal, and academic contexts it can denote inherent, non-adopted status or traits derived from the body, such as leibliche Merkmale (biological/physical characteristics).

Philosophical usage: In philosophy and theory of embodiment, Leibhierlichkeit (Leiblichkeit) refers to the lived body—the body as experienced from the first-person perspective—distinguishing it from the Körper, the body as an external object. This distinction is central to discussions of embodiment and subjectivity.

See also: Leib, Leiblichkeit, Körper, biologische Abstammung, Leibesfrucht.