der Knecht
Translation
farmhand, servant, vassal, squire
Examples
Der Knecht arbeitete hart auf dem Feld.
The farmhand worked hard in the field.
Der Ritter hatte einen treuen Knecht.
The knight had a loyal servant.
Grammar Patterns
der Knecht ((as subject)) the farmhand/servant Der Knecht arbeitet auf dem Feld.
((sb.)) as a Knecht to have sb. as a servant The lord of the manor had many servants.
Similar Words
Synonyms: Diener (servant), Gehilfe (assistant), Leibeigener (serf); Antonyms: Herr (lord/master), Meister (master)
Etymology
From Old High German 'kneht' meaning 'boy, youth, servant'. It shares a common origin with the English word 'knight'.
Memory Tips
Imagine a 'knight' in their early role as a squire or servant to a lord. The German word 'Knecht' kept this original sense of servitude.