volkslied

noun

volks·lied ˈfōks-ˌlēt

ˈfȯlks-

plural volkslieder

ˈfōks-ˌlē-dər,

ˈfȯlks-

: a folk song

Word History

Etymology

German, from Volk people + Lied song

First Known Use

circa 1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of volkslied was circa 1854

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

Volksdeutscher

volkslied

Volksraad

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Volkslied.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/volkslied. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

spontaneous

Listen to the pronunciation of spontaneous

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Using Bullet Points ( • )

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Popular in Wordplay

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

Popular

Using Bullet Points ( • )

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs