Germans primarily call themselves Deutsche.
The Endonym: "Deutsche"
The term Deutsche (pronounced Doy-chuh) is the self-designation, or endonym, that the people of Germany use for themselves. This word is derived from Old High German diutisc, meaning "of the people." Their country is likewise referred to as Deutschland.
Contrasting Self-Designation with External Names
While Germans refer to themselves as Deutsche, other cultures and languages have historically used different names to describe them. This distinction between what a group calls itself and what others call them is crucial for understanding national identities.
Here's a brief comparison:
| Category | Term for the People | Term for the Land | Origin/Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-Designation | Deutsche | Deutschland | From Old High German, "of the people" |
| Common Latin Terms | Germani | Germania | Common Latin words used by Romans |
| English Exonym | Germans | Germany | Derived from Latin Germania |
Historical Naming Conventions
For a significant period, particularly during the Roman Empire, the inhabitants of the region that would become modern Germany were commonly referred to by the Romans as Germani. The land itself was known as Germania. These Latin terms became widely adopted in other languages, leading to the English "Germans" and "Germany." However, even then, the various Germanic tribes would have had their own internal names for themselves, distinct from the Latin designations.
The use of Deutsche as a collective self-identifier emerged and solidified over centuries, reflecting a shared linguistic and cultural heritage among the German-speaking populations.
