What does volkslied mean?
Volkslied is a German loanword meaning a folk song, especially one that expresses the identity or aspirations of a people and may function as a patriotic or national song. In English it most often appears in discussions of German or European musical culture, where it may refer to a traditional song or to an unofficial national anthem. The term is also used more broadly for a song that has been adopted collectively as a cultural emblem. Because “volkslied” can suggest both an ordinary folk tradition and political symbolism, it is not simply interchangeable with every folk song or every formal national anthem. It is especially useful when the emphasis is not merely on a song’s ceremonial status, but on its claimed or recognized embodiment of a nation’s shared voice. The German noun is capitalized, and its plural is Volkslieder.
nounA traditional folk song, especially one regarded as a patriotic or national song.
- A folk song, especially one valued as an expression of a people's or nation's identity.
"The song became a celebrated German Volkslied, valued for its expression of national solidarity."
"The melody became widely known as a German Volkslied and was often performed at public gatherings."
"An archive of nineteenth-century manuscripts preserves many Volkslieder collected during the Romantic movement."
The standard German plural is Volkslieder; English usage commonly preserves this form.
"Several Volkslieder from the nineteenth century were collected by folklorists and composers."
The Romantic revival elevated songs of “the people's voice” into symbols of national identity, making Volkslied more than a musical genre.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of volkslied
Volkslied was borrowed from German, where Volk means “people” and Lied means “song”; English folk is a cognate of German Volk. The compound developed in German usage around the idea of a song belonging to or expressing the people. During the Romantic movement, scholars and collectors placed particular emphasis on folk songs as expressions of shared national and cultural identity.
How volkslied is actually used
This is a relatively uncommon German loanword in everyday English, encountered chiefly in cultural, historical, or political discussions. German nouns are capitalized, so Volkslied and its plural Volkslieder retain their initial capitals even when the word is used in an English sentence.
Easily confused with volkslied
In German, Lied means any song, whereas Volkslied specifically denotes a folk or people's song; the English homograph lied usually means a false statement.