Same words but totally different meaning

There are words in German and English whose spelling is the same, but the meaning is totally different. These words may cause embarrassing situations, so it is better to know them.

English Word = German Translation the angel (Eng) = der Engel German Word = English Meaning die Angel (Ger) = the fishing rod

the art = die Kunst die Art = the species, the kind

bad (Eng) = bse, mies das Bad (Ger) = the bathroom

bald (Eng) = kahl, glatzkpfig (ohne Haare auf dem Kopf) bald (Ger) = soon

the boot (Eng) = der Stiefel das Boot (Ger) = the boat

brief (Eng) = kurz, kurz dargestellt der Brief (Ger) = the letter

dank (Eng) = feucht, unangenehm feucht, nasskalt der Dank (Ger) = thank, the gratitude

fast (Eng) = schnell, flott, fix, rasch fast (Ger) = almost

the gift (Eng) = das Geschenk, die Begabung das Gift (Ger) = the poison

the glut (Eng) = das berangebot, die Flle die Glut (Ger) = the embers, the glow

to grab (Eng) = greifen, zupacken das Grab (Ger) = the grave

the gut (Eng) = der Darm gut (Ger) = good, well

the hall (Eng) = die Halle, der Korridor der Hall (Ger) = the echo, the resonance

handy (Eng) = handlich, passend, bequem das Handy (Ger) = cell phone, mobile phone

the hat (Eng) = der Hut hat (Ger) = has (like: he has = er hat)

the hut (Eng) = die Htte der Hut (Ger) = the hat

kind (Eng) = nett, gtig, lieb, freundlich, liebenswrdig the kind (Eng) = die Art das Kind (Ger) = the child

to lack (Eng) = fehlen, bentigen the lack (Eng) = das Fehlen, die Ermangelung der Lack (Ger) = the lacquer, the varnish

the hell (Eng) = die Hlle hell (Ger) = bright, fair, lucid

last (Eng) = letzte, letzter, letztes die Last (Ger) = the load, the burden

lied (Eng) = hat gelogen, log (like in: he lied = er hat gelogen) das Lied (Ger) = the song

the links (Eng) = die Verbindungen (pl.) links (Ger) = left (like in: left and right)

the list (Eng) = die Liste die List (Ger) = the cunning, the artfulness, the craftiness

made (Eng) = machte, gemacht (like in: Made in Germany) die Made (Ger) = the maggot, the grub

the mark (Eng) = die Markierung, Kennzeichnung das Mark (Ger) = the marrow (like in: bone marrow = Knochenmark)

the mist (Eng) = der Nebel, feuchter Dunst der Mist (Ger) = the dung, the manure

most (Eng) = uerst, am meisten der Most (Ger) = the must (like apple cider)

to mutter (Eng) = murmeln, murren die Mutter (Ger) = the mother

not (Eng) = nicht die Not (Ger) = the emergency, the distress

the qualm(s) (Eng) = der Zweifel, die Zweifel der Qualm (Ger) = the smoke, the fume

the rat (Eng) = die Ratte der Rat (Ger) = the advice, the councel, the suggestion

the rind (Eng) = die Rinde, die Schale, die Schwarte das Rind (Ger) = the beef, the cattle

the rock (Eng) = der Stein der Rock (Ger) = the skirt

sage (Eng) = klug, weise, gescheit die Sage (Ger) = the legend, the myth, the saga

to see (Eng) = sehen der See (Ger) = the lake die See (Ger) = the sea

sold (Eng) = verkaufte, hat verkauft (like in: Er hat sein Haus verkauft) der Sold (Ger) = the guerdon, the soldier's salary

stern (Eng) = ernst, streng, strikt der Stern (Ger) = the star

the stock (Eng) = die Aktie, der Bestand der Stock (Ger) = the cane, the stick, (but also a story in a building)

Homographs are words that are spelled the same but vary in pronunciation or meaning. But don't get confused by terms like heteronyms, homographs, homophones or homonyms. It really doesn't matter how they are called.

German Articles Part 1

We use nouns for people, objects, things or ideas. Nouns are normally (not always) preceded by an article. Nouns are always written with a capital letter in German.

In German we have three main articles:

der (masculine), die (feminine) and das (neuter).

For example: - der Mann (the man) - die Frau (the woman) - das Tier (the animal)

The articles change depending on - the gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) - the number (singular or plural) - and the case (nominative, genitive, dative and accusative)

The different forms can be: der, die, das, des, dem and den depending on gender, number and case. We are going to show how to handle the articles step by step so don't worry. This site is only part 1.

The Gender
The best method to get familiar to the articles is by listening a lot to the German language. We don't recommend learning words by heart but if you like to memorize words you should never learn just the nouns! Always try to remember also the main articles der, die and das. The grammatical gender does not follow a logical set of rules but there are some noun endings which give us a hint. But be careful, it does not always work! By the way, have a look at the English endings too. A lot of English and German words are similar.

The article: "der" (masculine)

-ling der Hftling (the prisoner) der Frhling (the spring) der Flchtling (the refugee) der Sugling (the infant) der Lehrling (the apprentice) der Zwilling (the twin)

-ist

der Optimist (the optimist) der Pianist (the pianist) der Polizist (the policeman) der Spezialist (the specialist)

-or der Humor (the humor) der Doktor (the doctor) der Tresor (the safe) der Professor (the professor) der Motor (the motor)

-ismus der Egoismus (the egoism) der Tourismus (the tourism) der Pazifismus (the pacifism)

-er der Hrer (the receiver) der Jger (the hunter) der Kfer (the bug, the beetle) der Krper (the body) der Tiger (the tiger) der Bcker (the baker) der Donner (the thunder)

The article: "die" (feminine)

-keit die Mdigkeit (the tiredness) die Sigkeit (the sweetness, the candy) die Fhigkeit (the ability) die Hufigkeit (the frequency) die Flssigkeit (the liquid, the fluid) die Geschwindigkeit (the speed, the velocity) die Frhlichkeit (the joyfulness)

-ion

die Portion (the portion) die Region (the region) die Station (the station) die Reaktion (the reaction) die Situation (the situation) die Nation (the nation) die Tradition (the tradition)

-schaft die Erbschaft (the inheritance , the heritage) die Landschaft (the landscape, the countryside) die Kundschaft (the customers, the clientele) die Wissenschaft (the science) die Eigenschaft (the characteristic) die Freundschaft (the friendship) die Gesellschaft (the society)

-heit die Feigheit (the cowardice) die Schnheit (the beauty) die Klugheit (the cleverness) die Bldheit (the stupidity) die Dummheit (the foolishness)

-enz die Intelligenz (the intelligence) die Konsequenz (the consequence) die Frequenz (the frequency) die Existenz (the existence) die Differenz (the difference) die Tendenz (the tendency)

-tt die Normalitt (the normality) die Spezialitt (the speciality) die Elektrizitt (the electricity) die Flexibilitt (the flexibility) die Kontinuitt (the continuity)

-ung die nderung (the change) die Abteilung (the department) die Einladung (the invitation) die Anleitung (the instruction) die Forschung (the research)

The article: "das" (neuter)

-nis das Schulzeugnis (the school certificate) das Gedchtnis (the memory) das Erlebnis (the experience) das Geheim nis (the secret) das Hindernis (the obstacle)

-ment das Dokument (the document) das Sortiment (the assortment) das Zement (the cement) das Komplement (the complement) das Medikament (the medication, the medicine) das Instrument (the instrument)

-lein / -chen Sometimes these endings are used to belittle a noun. der Vogel (the bird) => das Vgelchen (the little bird, the birdie) das Buch (the book) => das Bchlein (the booklet)

Compound words
By the way if you have a compound word, the gender of the compound word matches the gender of the last (right) word. Example der Wind + die Mhle = die Windmhle (the windmill) das Spiel + der Platz = der Spielplatz (the playground) die Frage + das Zeichen = das Fragezeichen (the question mark)

There are many similar words in English and in German. Here are some adjectives with the same meaning and spelling. abnormal (German = English)

Words with A abnormal absurd anal analog arrogant

Words with B banal beige bitter blind blond brutal

Words with C and D cool diagonal digital

Words with E elegant emotional extravagant

Words with F fair formal fundamental

Words with G and H global horizontal

Words with I ideal illegal impotent intelligent international intolerant irrational irrelevant

Words with L legal liberal linear loyal

Words with M maximal mild minimal multilateral

Words with N national neutral normal

Words with O OK okay optimal optional oral orange oval

Words with P parallel paranoid pink

prominent prompt proportional

Words with R rapid rational redundant regional relevant robust

Words with S sentimental sexy solo super superb

Words with T tolerant total transparent triumphal trivial turbulent

Words with U, V and W unfair universal verbal warm wild

Words with A addition (English) > Addition (German) die Addition die Adoption der Agent die Aggression

der Alarm das Album das Alibi der Alligator das Alphabet die Alternative das Aluminium der Amateur das Aquarium die Arena das Argument der Arm das Aroma der Asteroid das Asthma der Astronaut der Atlas das Atom der Automat Words with B baby (English) > Baby (German) das Baby die Balance der Ball die Band die Bank die Bar die Basis der Basketball der Bass der Bastard der Bikini der Bluff der Boss die Boutique der Boxer der Broccoli der Browser das Budget der Bus der Butler die Butter

Words with C

caf (English) > Caf (German) das Caf das Casino das Cello die Chance das Chaos der Cheeseburger der Clown der Club das Cockpit der Cocktail der Code der Computer der Container die Cornflakes die Couch

Words with D definition (English) > Definition (German) die Definition die Demonstration die Demo das Depot die Depression das Dessert das Detail die Detonation der Dialog der Diplomat der Doppelgnger der Download das Drama

Words with E echo (English) > Echo (German) das Echo das Element die Emotion die Episode die Evolution die Expedition

das Experiment die Explosion

Words with F fan (English) > Fan (German) der Fan die Farm das Fax der Film der Filter der Finger das Format das Forum das Fossil das Fragment der Frost

Words with G garage (English) > Garage (German) die Garage das Gas das Gel die Generation der Generator die Gesundheit die Giraffe das Gold der Gorilla die Grapefruit

Words with H hamburger (English) > Hamburger (German) der Hamburger der Hammer der Hamster die Hand die Hardware der Hippie das Hobby der Horror

das Hotel der Humor der Humorist der Hunger

Words with I idiot (English) > Idiot (German) der Idiot das Idol die Illusion der Index die Information die Info die Initiative das Inland die Innovation die Inspiration die Institution das Instrument die Intention das Internet das Interview die Intuition die Isolation

Words with J and K jaguar (English) > Jaguar (German) der Jaguar der Jazz die Jeans der Jeep der Job der Journalist der Junior der Ketchup das Kilo der Kindergarten die Kiwi das Kraut

Words with L land (English) > Land (German) das Land der Laptop der Laser die Lava der Leopard der Lift die Limousine der Liter die Lust (plurivalent maybe not what you think)

Words with M macho (English) > Macho (German) der Macho das Magnesium der Magnet die Malaria der Manager die Mango die Massage der Mast das Material die Matrix die Maximum das Medium das Memorandum das Memo der Meteor der Meter die Million die Mine das Mineral das Minimum der Minister die Minute die Mission das Model der Moment das Monster das Moor das Moped die Motivation

der Motor das Motto das Museum das Musical

Words with N name (English) > Name (German) der Name die Nation das Nest das Netbook das Neutron die Norm das Notebook der/das Nougat

Words with O olive (English) > Olive (German) die Olive das Omelette die Operation die Opposition das Optimum die Option die Orange das Orbit die Organization das Organ der Organist

Words with P and Q panda (English) > Panda (German) der Panda das Panorama der Panther die Papaya die Parade der Paragraph der Parameter die Paranoia

der Park der Partner die Party das Patent der Patient der Patriot die Pause das Pedal die Person die Pest das Phantom die Phase der Quotient das Quiz

Words with R radar (English) > Radar (German) das Radar das Radio der Radius die Rate die Rebellion der Referend der Reflex die Reform der Refrain das Regime die Region das Register die Religion das Rendezvous die Reportage der Report die Reserve der Rest das Restaurant die Revolution der Ring der Roller die Rose die Route die Routine der Rucksack

der Ruin der Rum

Words with S sabotage (English) > Sabotage (German) die Sabotage der Sack der Safe das Sandwich der Sand die Satire die Sauce das Sauerkraut die Sauna die Schadenfreude das Schema der Schnaps das Segment der Sender die Sensation das Serum der Service der Sex das Shampoo die Show die Silhouette die Simulation das Skateboard der Sketch der Ski (Schi) der Slogan das Smartphone der Snob das Snowboard das Sofa die Software das Solarium das Solo das Sonar der Spitz der Sport das Spray das Stadium der Standard

der Start der Star das Station die Statue der Status das Steak die Steppe der Stinker der Stress der Student der Surfer das Sushi das Symbol das Symptom das Synonym das System

Words with T talent (English) > Talent (German) das Talent das Tandem der Tanker der Tank das Taxi das Team das Telefax das Telex das Temperament das Tennis das Terrarium der Terrorist der Terror das Testament der Tester der Test der Text das Theater das Thermometer das Ticket der Tiger der Tip das Toast der Tornado der Tourist

die Tour der Transfer der Transporter der Transport das Trauma der Trick der Triumph das T-Shirt der Tsunami die Tuba der Tumor der Tunnel der Turban die Turbine der Tutor die Type

Words with U and V umlaut (English) > Umlaut (German) der Umlaut die Uniform die Union der Van die Variabl die Vase die Vegetation der Ventilator die Veranda das Verb die Version der Veteran: Veteran das Veto das Video die Villa der Virus das Vitamin Volleyball

Words with W, Y and Z wind (English) > W ind (German) der Wind der Winter

der Wolf das Yoga das Zebra der Zeitgeist der Zombie die Zone der Zoom der Zoo der Zwieback