pro-German
|pro-ger-man|
🇺🇸
/proʊˈdʒɝmən/
🇬🇧
/prəʊˈdʒɜːmən/
in favor of Germany
Etymology
'pro-German' is a compound formed from the Latin prefix 'pro-' meaning 'for' and 'German', which ultimately comes from Latin 'Germanus' meaning 'of the Germans'.
'German' comes from Latin 'Germanus', which entered various medieval forms (e.g. Old French 'Germain' and Middle English forms) and eventually became the modern English word 'German'; the productive prefix 'pro-' (Latin 'pro') has been used in English since the medieval/early modern period to form compounds meaning 'in favor of', producing 'pro-German' as an English compound.
Originally the elements meant 'for' and 'of the Germans', and over time the compound came to be used to describe political or cultural support for Germany or German people/policies rather than just a literal 'for Germans' phrasing.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who supports or favors Germany or German policies; someone described as being pro-German.
Several pro-Germans in the delegation argued for closer ties with Berlin.
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Adjective 1
favoring, supportive of, or sympathetic to Germany, the German government, or German people/culture.
The editor was criticized for publishing a pro-German article during the crisis.
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Last updated: 2025/10/29 03:02