In German
Leute
Meaning: people
Formal or informal? “Leute” is the everyday word for people, and it's informal. For a more formal or general sense of “human beings”, use “Menschen”.
Example sentences
DieLeutewartendraußen.
The people are waiting outside.
VieleLeutekommenzurParty.
Many people come to the party.
WiegehtesdenLeuten?
How are the people doing?
Grammar note
“Die Leute” is always plural, so the verb is plural too: “die Leute sind”. In the dative it becomes “den Leuten”, with an -n ending.
Common mistake
Don't use “ein Leute” or “ein Leuten”. The noun has no singular, so there's no article “ein”. Use “Person” for one person.
Quick check
Which German word means “people”?
More words on this topic
Keep learning German
Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between “Leute” and “Menschen”?
“Leute” is everyday and informal, while “Menschen” is the more general or formal word for human beings.
What is the German word for one person?
“Person”, which is feminine: “eine Person”.