German Words Used in English: 40 Loanwords
🇩🇪 German · 40 cards · B1 · by Annika Vogel
English has borrowed generously from German, and almost nothing arrives intact. Angst here is the plain fear you feel about spiders or the dentist, not a philosophical mood. Lager means warehouse – order one in a Hamburg pub and you will get a blank look. Ersatz is completely neutral: a substitute player is an Ersatzspieler, no sneer attached. And Wanderlust sounds faintly dusty next to Fernweh, which is what people actually say. Every card gives you the article, the everyday German meaning and one sentence you could really overhear. Learn the gender together with the word – that is the part English never imported.
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Flip through the cards, then switch to Quiz. Tap the play button on any row to hear it. The full table below is there to read, print or copy into your own flashcard app.
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All 40 cards
| # | German | English | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kindergarten der Kindergarten. In Germany it is daycare for roughly ages 3–6, not a school year; the first school year is die erste Klasse. | kindergarten, preschool, nursery | Mein Sohn geht seit August in den Kindergarten. My son has been going to kindergarten since August. | |
| 2 | Rucksack der Rucksack, literally "back sack". Completely everyday in German, unlike the slightly old-fashioned English "rucksack". | backpack, rucksack | Nimm den Rucksack mit, da passt mehr rein. Take the backpack, more fits in it. | |
| 3 | Hamburger der Hamburger – the same word for the burger and for a man from Hamburg (a woman is eine Hamburgerin). As a Hamburg native I hear that joke a lot. | hamburger; person from Hamburg | Er isst seinen Hamburger immer ohne Zwiebeln. He always eats his hamburger without onions. | |
| 4 | Bratwurst die Bratwurst, plural Bratwürste. From braten (to fry/roast) – one specific type of Wurst, not sausage in general. | bratwurst, fried sausage | Auf dem Markt gibt es Bratwurst mit Senf. At the market there's bratwurst with mustard. | |
| 5 | Brezel die Brezel. Regional forms: die Brezn in Bavaria, die Bretzel in Swabia. English "pretzel" comes from an older southern German form. | pretzel | Zum Bier bestellt sie immer eine große Brezel. She always orders a big pretzel with her beer. | |
| 6 | Sauerkraut das Sauerkraut, often just Kraut in German. Careful: "Kraut" as a word for Germans is an ethnic slur in English. | sauerkraut, fermented cabbage | Zu den Würstchen gibt es Sauerkraut und Kartoffeln. There's sauerkraut and potatoes with the sausages. | |
| 7 | Müsli das Müsli. Originally Swiss German (Birchermüesli); the English spelling "muesli" just writes out the umlaut. Baked, clustery granola is Knuspermüsli. | muesli | Morgens esse ich Müsli mit Joghurt. In the morning I eat muesli with yoghurt. | |
| 8 | Schnitzel das Schnitzel. Strictly a thin slice of meat, but breaded is the default. Wiener Schnitzel is veal by law; the pork version is Schnitzel Wiener Art. | schnitzel, breaded cutlet | Das Schnitzel war größer als der Teller. The schnitzel was bigger than the plate. | |
| 9 | Strudel der Strudel. In German it also means a whirlpool in water – the pastry is usually specified as Apfelstrudel. | strudel; whirlpool, eddy | Der Strudel kommt gleich frisch aus dem Ofen. The strudel is coming out of the oven in a minute. | |
| 10 | Pumpernickel der Pumpernickel: a very dark, almost sweet Westphalian rye bread, sold in thin slices. | pumpernickel (dark rye bread) | Pumpernickel schmeckt am besten mit Butter und Käse. Pumpernickel tastes best with butter and cheese. | |
| 11 | Schnaps der Schnaps. In German any strong spirit, not necessarily fruity or sweet. English doubles the p: schnapps. | schnapps, spirits, liquor | Nach dem Essen trinkt mein Opa einen Schnaps. After the meal my grandpa drinks a schnapps. | |
| 12 | Lager das Lager. The beer style is Lagerbier ("stored beer"); order "ein Lager" in Germany and people will blink. Ask for ein Helles or ein Pils. | warehouse, storage room; camp | Das Lager ist bis unters Dach voll. The warehouse is full right up to the roof. | |
| 13 | Biergarten der Biergarten. Bavarian tradition: long shared tables under chestnut trees, and traditionally you may bring your own food. | beer garden | Bei dem Wetter sitzen alle im Biergarten. In this weather everyone is sitting in the beer garden. | |
| 14 | Oktoberfest das Oktoberfest. Munich locals mostly call it die Wiesn; smaller copies elsewhere are also called Oktoberfest. | Oktoberfest | Das Oktoberfest fängt eigentlich im September an. Oktoberfest actually starts in September. | |
| 15 | Autobahn die Autobahn. Only some stretches have no speed limit; English usage tends to imagine the whole network that way. | motorway, highway | Auf der Autobahn war heute wieder Stau. There was a traffic jam on the motorway again today. | |
| 16 | Lederhose die Lederhose – singular in German for one garment. English borrowed the plural form Lederhosen. | lederhosen, leather shorts | Seine Lederhose trägt er schon seit Jahren. He has been wearing his lederhosen for years. | |
| 17 | Dirndl das Dirndl, from the Bavarian word for "girl". Traditionally Bavarian and Austrian; in the north you only see it at themed parties. | dirndl (traditional dress) | Das Dirndl steht dir wirklich gut. The dirndl really suits you. | |
| 18 | Dackel der Dackel. Dachshund ("badger dog") is the official breed name in German too, but it sounds stiff – everyday speech says Dackel. | dachshund, sausage dog | Der Dackel bellt jeden Radfahrer an. The dachshund barks at every cyclist. | |
| 19 | Rottweiler der Rottweiler, named after the town of Rottweil in Baden-Württemberg. | Rottweiler | Der Rottweiler sieht gefährlicher aus, als er ist. The Rottweiler looks more dangerous than he is. | |
| 20 | Pudel der Pudel, from Low German puddeln (to splash about) – it was bred as a water dog. | poodle | Ihr Pudel war gerade beim Hundefriseur. Her poodle has just been to the dog groomer. | |
| 21 | Walzer der Walzer, from walzen (to roll, to turn). English dropped the -er. | waltz | Auf der Hochzeit haben wir Walzer getanzt. At the wedding we danced a waltz. | |
| 22 | Glockenspiel das Glockenspiel, literally "bell play". In German it covers both tower chimes and the small orchestral instrument. | glockenspiel; carillon, chime | Im Turm spielt das Glockenspiel jeden Mittag. The carillon in the tower plays every day at noon. | |
| 23 | jodeln Regular verb; the noun is der Jodler (both the singer and the song). Alpine, and mildly comical outside that context. | to yodel | In den Bergen kann man wunderbar jodeln. You can yodel wonderfully in the mountains. | |
| 24 | Edelweiß das Edelweiß, literally "noble white". Spelled Edelweiss in Switzerland and in English. | edelweiss | Edelweiß darf man nicht pflücken. You are not allowed to pick edelweiss. | |
| 25 | Gesundheit die Gesundheit. The basic meaning is "health"; English borrowed only the sneeze response "Gesundheit!", which Germans do say too. | health; bless you! | Gesundheit ist wichtiger als Geld. Health is more important than money. | |
| 26 | Angst die Angst. Everyday fear of concrete things. English "angst" (existential unease) is closer to German Existenzangst or Weltschmerz. | fear, anxiety | Ich habe Angst vor Spinnen. I'm afraid of spiders. | |
| 27 | Kitsch der Kitsch; adjective kitschig. Used exactly as in English, and just as dismissive. | kitsch, tacky sentimentality | Die Deko in dem Laden ist reiner Kitsch. The decoration in that shop is pure kitsch. | |
| 28 | Zeitgeist der Zeitgeist, literally "time spirit". Bookish in German too – you meet it in newspapers, not on the U-Bahn. | zeitgeist, spirit of the times | Der Film trifft den Zeitgeist der Neunziger. The film captures the zeitgeist of the nineties. | |
| 29 | Doppelgänger der Doppelgänger, literally "double walker". English usually writes it without the umlaut: doppelganger. | doppelganger, lookalike | Gestern habe ich im Zug deinen Doppelgänger gesehen. Yesterday I saw your doppelganger on the train. | |
| 30 | Schadenfreude die Schadenfreude, literally "damage joy". The adjective is schadenfroh. Totally everyday in German. | schadenfreude, malicious glee | Ein bisschen Schadenfreude war schon dabei. There was a bit of schadenfreude involved, admittedly. | |
| 31 | Wanderlust die Wanderlust. Slightly old-fashioned in German and originally about hiking; today Fernweh is far more common. | wanderlust, urge to travel | Im Frühling packt mich wieder die Wanderlust. In spring the wanderlust grabs me again. | |
| 32 | Fernweh das Fernweh, literally "far ache" – the opposite of Heimweh (homesickness). Increasingly borrowed into English travel writing. | longing for faraway places, wanderlust | Bei Urlaubsfotos bekomme ich sofort Fernweh. Holiday photos give me an instant longing to travel. | |
| 33 | Wunderkind das Wunderkind, plural Wunderkinder. In German also used ironically for adults who peaked early. | child prodigy | Am Klavier war sie ein echtes Wunderkind. She was a real prodigy at the piano. | |
| 34 | Weltschmerz der Weltschmerz, literally "world pain": sadness about the state of the world. Often used half-jokingly. | world-weariness, melancholy | Nach dem Film hatte ich richtig Weltschmerz. After the film I felt properly world-weary. | |
| 35 | Gemütlichkeit die Gemütlichkeit; adjective gemütlich. Covers cosy rooms, unhurried evenings and easy-going people alike. | cosiness, warm comfort | Kerzen und Decken sorgen für Gemütlichkeit. Candles and blankets create a cosy atmosphere. | |
| 36 | Ohrwurm der Ohrwurm, literally "ear worm"; English "earworm" is a loan translation. In German it is also the insect (earwig). | earworm, catchy tune | Das Lied ist ein absoluter Ohrwurm. That song is a total earworm. | |
| 37 | Poltergeist der Poltergeist, from poltern (to bang about) – literally a "racketing ghost". | poltergeist | Bei den Geräuschen auf dem Dachboden denke ich an einen Poltergeist. With those noises in the attic I think of a poltergeist. | |
| 38 | Ersatz der Ersatz. Completely neutral in German – a substitute player is an Ersatzspieler. English "ersatz" implies an inferior imitation. | replacement, substitute | Als Ersatz für Butter nehme ich Öl. I use oil as a substitute for butter. | |
| 39 | Realpolitik die Realpolitik: politics based on practical interests rather than principles. Same slightly cynical ring in both languages. | realpolitik, pragmatic politics | Das ist keine Ideologie, das ist Realpolitik. That's not ideology, that's realpolitik. | |
| 40 | Fingerspitzengefühl das Fingerspitzengefühl, literally "fingertip feeling". Common in German offices; in English it appears mainly in business and political writing. | tact, intuitive touch, finesse | Für dieses Gespräch braucht man Fingerspitzengefühl. That conversation needs a delicate touch. |
Annika Vogel
Native German · Speaks English, Dutch
Hamburg native. I spent years explaining German word order to exchange students and still enjoy it. My decks favour the words you hear on the U-Bahn over the ones in textbooks.
Published
Questions about this deck
- Does "Angst" mean the same thing in German as in English?
- No. German "Angst" is ordinary fear or worry: Angst vor Spinnen (fear of spiders), Angst vor der Prüfung (nerves about the exam). The brooding existential dread of English "angst" is closer to Existenzangst or Weltschmerz. A German saying "Ich habe Angst" just means they are scared.
- Why does English say "dachshund" when Germans say "Dackel"?
- English borrowed the older, fuller name Dachshund, literally "badger dog", because the breed was bred to hunt badgers underground. German still uses Dachshund as the official breed name, but everyday speech says Dackel, or affectionately Dackelchen. Use Dackel in Germany and you will sound current.
- Can I order "a lager" in Germany?
- Not really. German "das Lager" means warehouse, storage room or camp; the beer term is Lagerbier, which nobody orders by that name. Say ein Pils, ein Helles or ein Weizen depending on the style, or simply ein Bier.
- Do Germans actually use Wanderlust, Schadenfreude and Zeitgeist?
- Schadenfreude yes, constantly, in completely ordinary conversation. Zeitgeist exists but is bookish – more newspaper than kitchen table. Wanderlust sounds a bit dated and originally referred to hiking; for the itch to travel far away, modern speakers say Fernweh.
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