wörtliche

Wörtliche is the attributive form of the German adjective wörtlich, meaning literal or verbatim. It is not typically used as a stand‑alone noun; instead it appears before a noun to specify that content is taken exactly as stated. The most common usage is in phrases such as die wörtliche Rede (direct speech) or das wörtliche Zitat (verbatim quotation).

In grammar and style, wörtliche takes the inflected endings of the definite article system. Examples include die wörtliche Rede (feminine singular), das wörtliche Zitat (neuter singular), die wörtlichen Reden (plural), and die wörtlichen Zitate (plural). The word can modify other feminine, masculine, or neuter nouns in singular when the article is definite, always carrying the -e ending in singular forms.

In use, wörtliche Rede designates the exact wording spoken, written, or quoted, as opposed to indirect or reported speech, which paraphrases meaning. For instance, a quotation marks example might be presented in wörtlicher Form: Sie sagte: "Ich komme morgen." The paraphrase would be: Sie sagte, sie komme morgen (indirekte Rede). In scholarly writing, wörtliche Wiedergabe or wörtliches Zitat are common terms to indicate verbatim reproduction of source text.

Etymology traces wörtlich to the German word Wort (word), with the suffix -lich forming an adjective meaning related to words or wording. Wörtliche is therefore tied closely to concepts of direct quotation, literal meaning, and verbatim reproduction in linguistics and literature. See also direct speech, indirect speech, and quotation practices.