# Karl

/ˈkɑɹɫ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/karl
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. male name

noun · CEFR A1

a common male first name in German-speaking and Scandinavian countries.

For teachers: a male given name of Germanic origin, equivalent to the English name Charles.

- Karl was a popular name in his family for many generations.
- The biography of Karl Marx provides a detailed account of his intellectual development in nineteenth-century Europe.

### 2. historical freeman

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

in old Viking times, a man who was free and could own land, but was not a noble.

For teachers: a member of the class of free peasants in medieval Scandinavian society, ranking between a thrall and a jarl.

- In the old stories, a karl had the right to carry weapons and attend meetings.
- The social hierarchy of the Viking Age distinguished clearly between the jarls who led, the karls who farmed, and the thralls who served.

Usage: Usually appears in historical or sociological texts regarding Old Norse culture.

## Examples

- The old stories tell of a brave karl who challenged the king.
- In the social hierarchy of the time, a karl held more rights than a thrall but remained far below the nobility.
- The sagas frequently depict the karl as a figure of sturdy independence, bound to the land yet possessing a distinct legal identity within the early Germanic social structure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.