411 REFERENCE · Wiktionary
Rückgrat
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
German
de:
Etymology
de :af rück-<t:back-> Grat<t:ridge>
de rück Grat back- ridge
Pronunciation
de /ˈʁʏkˌɡʁaːt/ [ˈʁʏkʁaːtʰ]
de De-Rückgrat.ogg <<Germany>> (<<Berlin>>)
de Rück grat
Noun
n,(e)s
de anatomy backbone, spine
de Wirbelsäule
de figuratively backbone, cornerstone the fundamental or main contributor to a system or organization
de Der Tourismus ist das Rückgrat unserer Wirtschaft. Tourism is the backbone of our economy.
de figuratively spine, assertiveness the willingness to stand up for oneself in the face of adversity
de Jetzt müsste er mal Rückgrat beweisen, statt alles immer nur hinzunehmen. He really should show some spine now for once, instead of only ever putting up with things.
Declension
n,(e)s
Derived terms
de rückgratlos
Further reading