Volk is a German word meaning people or folk. It is commonly used in words such as "Volksmusik" or "Völkerbund" (League of Nations), or the car manufacturer Volkswagen (literally, "people's car").

During the Third Reich, this term and its adjective "völkisch" became heavily politicised, particular in slogans such as "Volk ohne Raum" - "(a) people without space" or "Völkischer Beobachter" ("popular observer"), an NSDAP party newspaper. Also the political slogan "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" ("One people, one country, one leader"). Today, the adjective "völkisch" is not used anymore.