obere

Obere is a German adjective meaning upper, uppermost, or on the higher side. It is used to describe a noun that is positioned higher in space, in rank, or in a sequence. The word itself does not function as a stand-alone noun in standard usage; it is a descriptor that normally appears directly before a noun.

Morphology and examples. In singular, das obere Haus (neuter), die obere Frau (feminine), and der obere Mann (masculine) show how the form changes with the definite article: the ending -e is used for all three singular genders after der/die/das. In plural, with a definite article, die oberen Häuser uses the ending -en. When used with an indefinite article, the forms are ein oberer Mann (masculine), eine obere Frau (feminine), ein oberes Haus (neuter). Without any determiner, the strong inflection yields: oberer Mann, obere Frau, oberes Haus.

Usage and contexts. Obere is common in architecture and geography to indicate position, such as obere Etage (upper floor), obere Wohnung (upper apartment), or obere Etage des Gebäudes. In anatomy and medicine, terms like obere Extremität (upper limb) use the same adjective pattern. It can also refer to ranking or order in a sequence, for example in hierarchies or lists. The form adjusts for number and determiner in standard German grammar, but the basic sense remains the same: indicating something higher or more prominent within a set.

Etymology and related forms. Ober is a Germanic element meaning upper; the prefix occurs widely in compound words (oberhalb, Oberflächen, Oberstufe). Obere shares this root and participates in the same inflection patterns as other adjectives in German.

See also. Ober- as a prefix in compound terms; related adjectives with similar meaning, such as obereinstoff? (Note: usage depends on context and standard grammar rules).