traditionelle

Traditionelle is a German adjective form meaning traditional or relating to tradition. It is the attributive form of traditionell and is used before a noun, agreeing with gender, number, and case.

Etymology and meaning: The word derives from Tradition, the German noun for tradition, which itself comes from Latin traditionem. The suffix -ell is common in German to form adjectives that describe a quality or characteristic. As a result, traditionell and its inflected forms convey something that adheres to established customs, practices, or cultural norms.

Grammar and inflection: traditionell has different endings depending on the noun it modifies and the presence of articles. Without an article, forms include masculine singular traditioneller Brauch, feminine singular traditionelle Küche, neuter singular traditionelles Handbuch, and plural traditionelle Bräuche. With an indefinite article, the endings shift to traditioneller Brauch (masc), traditionelle Küche (fem), traditionelles Handbuch (neut), while plural forms are traditionale Bräuche or traditionellen Bräuche depending on the determiner. With a definite article, the endings are der traditionelle Brauch, die traditionelle Küche, das traditionelle Handbuch, and die traditionellen Bräuche. In the plural with a definite article, the form is traditionellen.

Usage and nuance: traditionell is common in cultural, culinary, architectural, and social contexts to indicate long-standing, customary, or conventional characteristics. The term often carries a neutral to slightly positive connotation, depending on context; it can contrast with modern or innovative approaches.

See also: Tradition, traditionell. The word is typically not used predicatively in the plural; the predicative form is traditionell as an adverb or adjective, not traditionell in its plural attributive form.