English

Noun

Bildungsroman ‎(plural Bildungsromans or Bildungsromane)

1. Alternative letter-case form of bildungsroman

German

Etymology

From Bildung +‎ -s- +‎ Roman ‎(“novel”); coined c. 1820 by Johann Carl Simon Morgenstern; titled an 1820 text Über das Wesen des Bildungsromans.

From bildunge, from bildunga, from bilidon ‎(“to shape”), from bilodi ‎(“form, shape”), and French roman ‎(“novel”). Hence "novel of education" or "novel of formation".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈbɪl.dʊŋs.ʀoˈmaːn]

Noun

Bildungsroman m ‎(genitive Bildungsromans, plural Bildungsromane)

1. A bildungsroman, a novel of personal maturation.

Declension

English

Noun

bildungsroman ‎(plural bildungsromans or bildungsromane)

1. A novel tracing the spiritual, moral, psychological, or social development and growth of the main character, usually from childhood to maturity.

Translations