Translation of German word "leer" to English

leer

/leːɐ̯/

Meaning

Adjective

Devoid of content; containing nothing or nobody; vacant.

Reviewed by the TheLernen language teamDefinition sourced from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)Last updated: June 16, 2026

How to use

leer ('empty / vacant / blank') is an adjective. Eine leere Flasche — An empty bottle. Mit leeren Händen — Empty-handed.

🇬🇧 English

empty

Example

Die Flasche ist schon völlig leer, wir brauchen eine neue.

The bottle is already completely empty, we need a new one.

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All words in category: Adjectives

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Synonyms

unoccupied / vacantextinct / deserted / dead

Common phrases

mit leeren Händen— empty-handed
leer ausgehen— to come away empty-handed / get nothing

More Adjectives words

schwer leicht teuer günstig lang kurz hoch niedrig warm kalt heiß hell

This concept in other languages

🇪🇸Spanish:vacío 🇵🇱Polish:pusty

📖 Related grammar

Definite Articles in German Two-Way Prepositions in German Modal Verbs in German Full glossary →

Frequency rank: #776 in German

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the definition of the German word "leer"?▼

The German word "leer" is defined as: "Devoid of content; containing nothing or nobody; vacant."

What does the German word "leer" mean?▼

The German word "leer" means "empty" in English.

How do you pronounce the German word "leer"?▼

You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "leer" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see an example sentence with "leer"?▼

Yes, here is a practical example: "Die Flasche ist schon völlig leer, wir brauchen eine neue." (which translates as "The bottle is already completely empty, we need a new one.").