kriegie
Very lowHistorical, informal, military slang
Definition
Meaning
A prisoner of war.
A term used by Allied prisoners of war, particularly in German camps during WWII, to refer to themselves. It is derived from the German word for war ("Krieg") with the English diminutive suffix "-ie". It carries connotations of shared experience and informal camaraderie among prisoners.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This term is almost exclusively historical, referring to WWII POWs. Its use implies insider status among that specific group. It is not a general term for any prisoner of war from any conflict.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference, as its usage was shared among British, Commonwealth, and American POWs in German camps. It is a shared piece of historical slang.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties: historical, specific to WWII, informal, and imbued with a sense of shared hardship and dark humour.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use. Found almost exclusively in historical accounts, memoirs, and literature about WWII POW experiences.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
He was a kriegie.The kriegies devised an escape plan.Stories from the old kriegies.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Kriegie cuisine (humorous term for poor camp food)”
- “Kriegie wireless (rumour network within the camp)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical/military studies discussing WWII prisoner experiences.
Everyday
Not used in modern everyday conversation.
Technical
Not used in modern technical contexts; a historical slang term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The kriegie experience was harsh.
- They developed a unique kriegie humour.
American English
- Kriegie life involved constant boredom and hunger.
- He told a kriegie joke.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandfather was a kriegie in the war.
- The old soldiers, former kriegies, met for a reunion every year.
- His memoir detailed the ingenious ways kriegies maintained morale and communicated secretly.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the German word for war, "KRIEG," and add a friendly "-IE" ending. A "kriegie" is someone caught up in the war.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDENTITY AS A LABEL: The German word for the situation (war) becomes the label for the person experiencing it.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the Russian word "криги" (ice floes). The words are unrelated.
- It is not a standard English word like "soldier"; it is niche historical slang.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to refer to modern prisoners of war.
- Misspelling as "kreigie" or "krigie".
- Assuming it is a derogatory term; it was generally a neutral or self-identifying term among prisoners.
Practice
Quiz
In what context is the word 'kriegie' primarily used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is strongly associated with WWII. Using it for a modern POW would be historically inaccurate and potentially insensitive.
It is very informal, military slang. It would not be used in official reports or formal historical writing, but rather in memoirs, diaries, and informal speech among veterans.
Primarily, no. It was a term coined and used by the English-speaking prisoners themselves, adopting the German word for 'war' into their own slang.
It functions almost exclusively as a noun (e.g., 'He was a kriegie'). It can occasionally be used attributively as an adjective (e.g., 'kriegie life'), but this is less common.