mein kampf: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, historical, academic
Quick answer
What does “mein kampf” mean?
The title of Adolf Hitler's autobiographical manifesto and political treatise, outlining his ideology and plans for Germany.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The title of Adolf Hitler's autobiographical manifesto and political treatise, outlining his ideology and plans for Germany.
A byword for Nazi ideology, anti-Semitism, and totalitarian extremism; often referenced historically and critically as a foundational text of the Third Reich.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties; it is a German-language title used untranslated in English contexts.
Connotations
Universally associated with Nazism, hate, and genocide. It is a heavily loaded term.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general discourse, appearing primarily in historical, political science, or Holocaust studies contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “mein kampf” in a Sentence
[Author] wrote/published 'Mein Kampf'.'Mein Kampf' outlines/contains [ideology/plan].The ideology in 'Mein Kampf' led to [event].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in history, political science, and genocide studies to analyse Nazi ideology and its origins.
Everyday
Extremely rare and sensitive; used only in serious historical discussion.
Technical
Used as a primary source document in historical research.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mein kampf”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mein kampf”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mein kampf”
- Incorrectly capitalising as 'Mein kampf' (should be 'Kampf').
- Using it in inappropriate, non-historical contexts.
- Pronouncing 'Kampf' with a hard English 'p' instead of the German /pf/ sound.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It translates to 'My Struggle'.
It is only done in very specific academic, historical, or critical contexts with proper framing and commentary to condemn its hateful content. It is not suitable for casual or uncritical citation.
It is a standard convention to retain the original titles of well-known works, especially when the title itself has become a proper name for a specific historical artifact.
No. Given its direct and singular association with Nazism and genocide, using it metaphorically for any personal or political struggle is considered highly offensive and trivialising of history.
The title of Adolf Hitler's autobiographical manifesto and political treatise, outlining his ideology and plans for Germany.
Mein kampf is usually formal, historical, academic in register.
Mein kampf: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmaɪn ˈkampf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmaɪn ˈkɑmpf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a proper noun and not used idiomatically.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'My Struggle' (the English translation of the German title) - but remember it is exclusively associated with Hitler's destructive ideology.
Conceptual Metaphor
A TOME OF HATRED; A BLUEPRINT FOR DESTRUCTION.
Practice
Quiz
In what context is the term 'Mein Kampf' primarily used in modern English?