Words With German Origins

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300 Words

1 acronym A word formed from the first letters of a longer phrase, especially one pronounced as a single word rather tha...
2 Adelaide A female given name of Germanic origin, also the state capital of South Australia, named for Queen Adelaide.
3 Adidas Clothing or footwear made by the Adidas brand, especially trainers.
4 Adler A surname of German origin.
5 Adolf A masculine given name of Germanic origin, a variant of Adolph.
6 aldrin A now largely banned insecticide that persists in the environment for a long time.
7 angst A deep, often vague feeling of anxiety or dread, sometimes tied to broader worries about life or meaning.
8 antibody A protein made by the immune system that recognizes and attaches to a specific germ or foreign substance to he...
9 Anton A male given name of Latin origin, common across several European languages, and also used as a surname.
10 Arnold A masculine given name and surname of Germanic origin, meaning "ruler with eagle-like strength".
11 aspirin A common over-the-counter medicine used to relieve pain, reduce fever, and lower inflammation; also used in lo...
12 au A vowel found in Indic abugidas.
13 Aubrey A given name, historically masculine but now used for both sexes, and an English surname.
14 Auschwitz The site in occupied Poland of the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp during World War II, now...
15 autobahn A German or Austrian motorway, some sections of which have no general speed limit.
16 baa The bleating sound a sheep or goat makes.
17 bagel A dense, ring-shaped bread roll that's boiled briefly before being baked.
18 Bauer A German word for a farmer, used occasionally in English as a borrowed term or as a surname.
19 Baum A German surname meaning "tree", notably borne by author L. Frank Baum.
20 baze To stun, frighten, or bewilder someone.
21 Benz Informal shorthand for a Mercedes-Benz car.
22 benzene A colorless, flammable liquid hydrocarbon with the formula C6H6, made of a ring of six carbon atoms, widely us...
23 berlin A four-wheeled covered carriage with a separate seat at the rear, popular in the 17th and 18th centuries.
24 Bernd Internet slang from German-language forums and imageboards: a stereotypical anonymous poster, used the way "an...
25 Bernstein A German or Yiddish surname, also an English rendering of the Russian surname Bernshtein.
26 Bieber A German or Jewish surname, notably borne by the singer Justin Bieber.
27 bismarck A doughnut filled with cream or jam, sometimes topped with icing.
28 blitz To attack suddenly and with great force, or to complete a task very quickly and intensively.
29 blitzkrieg A fast, aggressive military offensive that relies on speed, surprise, and concentrated force, especially tanks...
30 blockade The act of sealing off a place, especially by sea, to stop goods or people moving in or out.
31 Bloomberg A surname, notably borne by businessman and politician Michael Bloomberg.
32 bluff To pretend to be stronger, more confident, or more prepared than you really are, in order to deceive or intimi...
33 Blum A German surname meaning "flower," and a town in Texas.
34 BMW A car or motorcycle made by the German manufacturer BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke, "Bavarian Motor Works").
35 bock A strong, dark beer traditionally brewed in autumn and aged over winter.
36 Boden An English surname common in Shropshire, and a town in northern Sweden.
37 Boeing An aircraft manufactured by the Boeing Company, or the company itself, a major American aerospace manufacturer...
38 boxer A person who fights in the sport of boxing.
39 brake A device that slows or stops a vehicle or machine, usually by friction, or the pedal or lever used to apply it...
40 Brandenburg A state in northeastern Germany surrounding Berlin, and historically a major territory of Prussia.
41 Brandt A German surname.
42 Brantley An American surname of German origin, also used as a male given name, and a town in Alabama.
43 bratwurst A type of German sausage, usually made from pork, typically fried or grilled.
44 Braun A German surname meaning "brown."
45 Bremer Someone who was born in, or lives in, the German city of Bremen.
46 Broyles A surname of German origin.
47 Bruckner A German surname, notably borne by the Austrian composer Anton Bruckner.
48 buckwheat A broad-leafed plant grown for its small, triangular seeds, which are used as a grain-like food even though it...
49 Budweiser A well-known American brand of lager beer.
50 bummer A disappointing or unfortunate situation; a shame.
51 Bunsen Short for Bunsen burner, a small gas burner used in science labs to produce a controlled open flame.
52 burger A patty of ground meat (or a meatless substitute) served in a split bun, often with toppings.
53 Busch A German surname meaning "thicket" or "wood."
54 caboose The last car on a freight train, once used as sleeping and cooking quarters for the crew.
55 Caucasian Relating to people classified by an older racial system as white or of European descent.
56 chromosome A thread-like structure of tightly coiled DNA and protein that carries an organism's genes.
57 clang To make (or produce) a loud, ringing metallic sound.
58 clash A loud, jarring sound made when hard objects strike together.
59 clop The sound made by a horse's hoof hitting the ground.
60 clown A comic performer, often in bright costume and makeup, known for slapstick and silly antics.
61 cobalt A hard, silvery-grey metallic chemical element (symbol Co, atomic number 27), used to make alloys and pigments...
62 Cohn A Jewish surname of German origin.
63 Cologne A light, fragrant liquid, weaker than perfume, used to give a pleasant scent to the skin.
64 commissar A Communist Party official, especially one assigned to a military unit to oversee political loyalty and ideolo...
65 Conrad A masculine given name of Germanic origin, meaning "bold counsel."
66 cookbook A book containing recipes and instructions for preparing food.
67 Cramer A surname of German origin.
68 cranberry A small, tart red berry that grows on a low shrub, often eaten dried, juiced, or as a sauce.
69 cranky Easily irritated; grumpy and bad-tempered.
70 craw The crop or stomach-like pouch of a bird or animal, used in the idiom "stick in one's craw" for something that...
71 croon To sing or hum softly and gently, typically in a low, sentimental voice.
72 CSU The Christian Social Union, the conservative political party that operates in Bavaria alongside its national s...
73 Cypher A surname of German origin.
74 dachshund A breed of dog with a long body and very short legs, originally bred to hunt burrowing animals.
75 Danzig A historical German name for the city of Gdańsk, Poland, used especially in reference to its time under Prussi...
76 Danziger A native or resident of Danzig, the historic name for the city now known as Gdańsk, Poland.
77 Deutsch German; relating to the German language or people.
78 Deutschland The German name for Germany.
79 diesel A heavy fuel oil used in engines that ignite fuel through compression rather than a spark.
80 dollar The main unit of currency in the United States, Canada, Australia, and several other countries, symbolized by...
81 doodle To draw or scribble absent-mindedly, usually while thinking about something else.
82 doppelganger Someone who looks strikingly like another person, or a ghostly double of a living person.
83 Doren A German surname.
84 Dost A German surname.
85 Dresden A city in eastern Germany, capital of the state of Saxony, known for its baroque architecture and its near-tot...
86 Drexler A German surname.
87 Dreyer A surname, notably borne by the Danish astronomer J. L. E. Dreyer, compiler of the New General Catalogue (NGC)...
88 dunk To dip something briefly into a liquid.
89 Durst A German surname, notably borne by musician Fred Durst.
90 Dutch Relating to the Netherlands, its people, or its language.
91 dyslexia A learning difficulty that makes reading, spelling, and writing more difficult, despite normal intelligence.
92 Earhart A German surname, notably borne by aviator Amelia Earhart.
93 Ebert A German surname, notably borne by film critic Roger Ebert.
94 ecology The branch of biology that studies how living things relate to each other and to their environment.
95 Edelstein A German surname, meaning "gemstone".
96 edelweiss A small alpine flower with woolly, star-shaped white blooms and silvery-grey leaves, found high in mountain ra...
97 Ehrlich A German and Jewish surname meaning "honest" or "honorable," notably borne by bacteriologist Paul Ehrlich.
98 Eisenhower A German-derived surname, famously borne by Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. general and 34th president.
99 Eisenstein A German and Jewish surname meaning "iron stone," notably borne by Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein.
100 EKG An electrocardiogram — a test that records the electrical activity of the heart; also written ECG.
101 empathy The ability to understand and share someone else's feelings.
102 Engel A German surname meaning "angel," sometimes used as an occupational or house sign name.
103 enzyme A protein produced by living cells that speeds up a specific chemical reaction in the body without being used...
104 Epstein A surname from German, notably borne by American-British sculptor Jacob Epstein and American sex offender and...
105 Erich A German form of the given name Eric, also used as a surname.
106 Ernest A male given name of Germanic origin, especially popular in the 19th century.
107 Ernst A German male given name and surname, equivalent to Ernest.
108 ester A type of chemical compound formed when an acid and an alcohol react together, releasing water; many esters gi...
109 etch To cut a design or pattern into a hard surface using acid, a needle, or another sharp tool.
110 fake Not genuine; made to look real in order to deceive.
111 Falk Another name for the razorbill, a black-and-white seabird related to the puffin.
112 Fanta A brand of fruit-flavoured fizzy soft drink made by Coca-Cola.
113 fatherland One's native country, especially spoken of with strong patriotic feeling.
114 Faust A legendary German scholar who, according to folklore, traded his soul to the Devil for knowledge and power.
115 fife A small, high-pitched flute-like instrument traditionally played alongside drums in military music.
116 fink An informer, especially one seen as untrustworthy or contemptible.
117 firework A device that burns or explodes to produce coloured light, sparks, or noise, used for celebrations.
118 fireworks A display or event featuring fireworks.
119 Fischer A German surname, an occupational name for a fisherman.
120 flak Anti-aircraft gunfire, or the guns that produce it.
121 Fleischman A surname of German and Jewish origin, an occupational name for a butcher.
122 foosball A tabletop game in which players spin rods to control miniature figures and hit a small ball into the opponent...
123 Frankfurt A major city in Germany, and the country's main banking and financial center.
124 Frau A title used before the surname of a German-speaking woman, equivalent to "Mrs." or "Ms."
125 fraulein A title for a young, unmarried German-speaking woman, equivalent to "Miss."
126 Frederick A male first name of Germanic origin meaning roughly "peaceful ruler."
127 Friedman A Jewish surname of German origin, notably that of economist Milton Friedman.
128 Fritz Informal: a broken or malfunctioning state, almost always used in the phrase "on the fritz".
129 frolic To play or move about happily and without restraint.
130 Fuchs A surname of German origin.
131 fuchsia A garden shrub with drooping red, pink, or purple flowers.
132 Fuehrer A German word for "leader," historically used as the title adopted by Adolf Hitler.
133 Fuhrer A German title meaning "leader," historically used as the official title of Adolf Hitler as head of Nazi Germa...
134 fumble To handle something clumsily or nervously, often dropping or mishandling it.
135 furlough An authorized leave of absence, especially for military personnel or employees.
136 fuss Excessive worry, activity, or complaint over something minor.
137 gauss A unit of magnetic field strength in the older CGS system of measurement.
138 Gehrig A German-derived surname, notably borne by baseball player Lou Gehrig.
139 genome The complete set of genetic material of an organism.
140 Georgi A German surname.
141 Germain A male first name from French, also used as a surname.
142 Gestapo The secret state police of Nazi Germany, notorious for surveillance, terror, and persecution.
143 gesundheit Said to someone right after they sneeze, wishing them good health.
144 glib Speaking smoothly and fluently but in a way that seems shallow, insincere, or lacking real thought.
145 glitch A small, usually temporary problem or fault, especially in a machine, computer, or software.
146 glitz Flashy, showy glamour, often suggesting style without real substance.
147 glum Sad, sullen, or in low spirits.
148 Goddard A masculine given name and surname of Germanic origin, also used as a place name in the United States.
149 Godfrey A masculine given name and surname of Germanic origin, also used as a place name in the United States and Cana...
150 Goldberg A German surname common in the United States, also the name of a town in Germany.
151 Goldstein A German Jewish surname, also the name of a district of Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
152 Gottfried A masculine given name and surname of German origin, meaning "peace of God."
153 Graf A German or Austrian nobleman equivalent to a count.
154 graff An overseer or steward (archaic).
155 graphite A soft, dark grey form of carbon used in pencil "lead," lubricants, and industrial materials.
156 greaves The solid bits of fat left behind after animal fat has been rendered down.
157 Greta A feminine given name derived from Margaret; also the name of several rivers in England, and towns in Australi...
158 Grossman A surname of German and Ashkenazi Jewish origin, from German Grossmann meaning "big man."
159 Guggenheim Any of several art museums founded by members of the Guggenheim family, most famously in New York and Bilbao.
160 gummi A chewy, gelatin-based candy, or the sugary gel material used to make it.
161 Gunther A male given name and surname of Germanic origin.
162 Haas A surname of Dutch, German, or Jewish origin, from a word meaning "hare."
163 Hamburg The second-largest city in Germany and one of its constituent states, a major port on the Elbe River.
164 hamburger A sandwich made of a cooked ground-meat patty served in a round bun, often with toppings.
165 Hammett A surname, notably borne by American crime writer Dashiell Hammett.
166 hamster A small, short-tailed rodent with cheek pouches, often kept as a pet.
167 Handel A German surname, most famously borne by composer George Frideric Handel.
168 Hanover A city in Lower Saxony, Germany, and the former royal house that ruled Britain from 1714 to 1901.
169 Hans A male given name of German origin, a short form of Johannes.
170 Hasselhoff A surname of German origin, most familiar as the surname of actor David Hasselhoff.
171 hawker A person who sells goods in the street or from place to place, often calling out to attract buyers.
172 heil To greet someone with the raised-arm "Sieg Heil" salute, historically associated with Nazi Germany.
173 heller A small coin once used in Germany and Central Europe, and later a subunit of the Czech and Slovak koruna.
174 Hermann A male given name and surname of German origin, equivalent to English Herman.
175 heroin A highly addictive illegal drug made from morphine, known for producing an intense rush of euphoria.
176 Herr A polite title used before a German man's surname, equivalent to "Mr."
177 hertz The standard unit of frequency, equal to one cycle per second.
178 Herzog A German duke; a title of high nobility in German-speaking lands.
179 hex To cast a spell on someone, especially a harmful or evil one; to bewitch.
180 hock The joint on the hind leg of an animal such as a horse, dog, or pig, roughly equivalent to an ankle.
181 Hoffman A surname of German and Ashkenazi Jewish origin, also the name of small communities in several U.S. states.
182 hoist To raise or lift something up, often using ropes, pulleys, or machinery.
183 homosexuality Romantic or sexual attraction to people of one's own sex.
184 Honnold A surname of German origin.
185 hoodlum A violent or lawless young troublemaker; a small-time thug.
186 hopefully In a way that shows hope.
187 horst In geology, a raised block of the Earth's crust sitting between two faults.
188 Huber A German surname, historically referring to the tenant of a small farm.
189 huff A fit of annoyance or offended pride.
190 Humboldt A German surname, notably borne by naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, and the name of several places in the Un...
191 hun A member of the nomadic people who invaded Europe from Central Asia in the 4th and 5th centuries.
192 hurrah An exclamation of approval, joy, or celebration.
193 jaeger Any of several predatory seabirds known for chasing other birds to steal their food.
194 Jerry A casual nickname for Gerald, Gerard, Jeremy, or similar names.
195 joker A person who likes making jokes.
196 Kaiser The historical title for the emperor of Germany or Austria, most famously Wilhelm II of Germany.
197 Karp A surname of German, Polish, Russian, or Jewish origin.
198 Katz A surname, common among Ashkenazi Jewish families and also found among non-Jewish Germans.
199 Kaufman A surname of German and Ashkenazi Jewish origin, an anglicized form of the German Kaufmann, meaning "merchant....
200 keck To retch or heave as if about to vomit.
201 keister A person's buttocks (informal).
202 Keller A cellar used for storing or serving beer, especially in Germany or Austria.
203 Kemper One who competes or struggles for superiority; a champion or fighter (archaic).
204 kinder Young children, especially as a collective term (chiefly used in some regional or informal English, borrowed f...
205 kindergarten A school or class for young children, typically aged around four to six, that comes before the first formal gr...
206 kip British informal: sleep, or a place to sleep.
207 kirsch A clear, unsweetened brandy distilled from black cherries, including their pits.
208 kitsch Art or decoration seen as tacky, overly sentimental, or in poor taste, often enjoyed ironically.
209 Klein A surname of German origin, meaning "small."
210 knapsack A bag, usually made of canvas or leather, carried on the back for holding supplies or belongings.
211 Kraft A strong, tough brown paper commonly used for wrapping, bags, and packaging.
212 Kramer To burst into a room or appear somewhere abruptly and with comic flair.
213 Krampus A horned, demonic figure in Alpine folklore who punishes misbehaving children during the Christmas season.
214 Kraut (informal, often derogatory) A German person.
215 lager A pale, crisp style of beer brewed at cool temperatures using a slow-acting yeast.
216 landau A four-wheeled carriage with a folding top, in which the front and rear seats face each other.
217 lazy Unwilling to work or make an effort; disinclined to exertion.
218 Leonardo A male given name, the Italian form of Leonard.
219 Leopold A masculine given name of Germanic origin, common in the 19th century but rare today.
220 leukemia A type of cancer that affects blood cells, usually causing the body to produce abnormal white blood cells.
221 Liechtenstein A tiny country in Central Europe between Switzerland and Austria, officially the Principality of Liechtenstein...
222 lied A German art song for solo voice and piano, typically setting a poem to music.
223 lill An old or dialectal word meaning to loll, lounge, or hang loosely.
224 Linde A surname of German, Dutch, or Scandinavian origin, referring to the linden (lime) tree; also a Spanish surnam...
225 linguistics The academic study of language — its structure, sounds, meaning, and history.
226 liverwurst A soft, spreadable sausage made mainly from liver.
227 Loeb A surname of German or Yiddish origin, a variant of Löb.
228 lorelei A woman viewed as dangerously alluring, like the legendary siren said to lure sailors to their doom.
229 loup A rough lump of semi-solid iron formed during smelting, worked by a hammer or rollers before it can be shaped...
230 Luftwaffe The German air force, most often referred to in the context of the Second World War.
231 Luther Martin Luther, the German monk and theologian whose writings sparked the Protestant Reformation.
232 Lutheran Relating to the theology of Martin Luther or the church founded on his teachings.
233 Luxembourg A small country in Western Europe, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
234 Mais A surname, found in both English and German contexts.
235 mann A surname of German or Punjabi origin.
236 Markus A male given name, a spelling variant of Marcus.
237 Marlene A female given name, popular in German-speaking countries from the early 20th century onward.
238 Marx A German surname, most famously borne by the philosopher and economist Karl Marx (1818-1883).
239 marzipan A sweet paste made from ground almonds, sugar, and egg white, often shaped or used to decorate cakes.
240 Matilda In Australian slang, a swagman's bundle of belongings, traditionally rolled up and carried on the back.
241 Mauser A rifle or pistol made to a design from the German Mauser company, known especially for its bolt-action rifles...
242 mensch A person of genuine decency, integrity, and honour.
243 Messer A medieval single-edged sword with a knife-like grip, historically used in German-speaking Europe.
244 Mitzi A feminine given name of German origin, originally a pet form of Maria.
245 monkey A small to medium-sized primate, typically with a tail, distinct from apes.
246 mops A pug dog.
247 Morgen A traditional unit of land area used in the Netherlands, parts of Germany, and former Dutch colonies, roughly...
248 morgenstern A medieval war club or mace whose head is studded with spikes, resembling a spiked ball.
249 Mozart By comparison to composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a person of extraordinary natural talent in music or anothe...
250 Mueller A German surname, an anglicized spelling of Müller, meaning "miller."
251 muffin A small, cake-like baked good, often eaten for breakfast, that can be sweet (blueberry, chocolate chip) or sav...
252 mug A large cup with a handle, used for hot drinks, without a saucer.
253 Munchausen A German surname, famously associated with Baron Munchausen, a fictional nobleman known for telling tall tales...
254 Munk A surname of German, Scandinavian, or Dutch origin.
255 Munsch A German surname, typical of the Alsace region.
256 Myer A surname, and occasionally a male given name, of English or German origin.
257 Myers A surname of English, Irish, Dutch, or German origin.
258 narcissism An excessive focus on and admiration of oneself, often paired with looking down on others.
259 Nassau In golf, a bet made up of three separate wagers: one on the front nine holes, one on the back nine, and one on...
260 Nazi A member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, which ruled Germany under Adolf Hitler from 1933 to...
261 Neanderthal A member of an extinct species of early human closely related to modern humans.
262 nickel A hard, silvery-white metallic element (symbol Ni, atomic number 28), often used in alloys and plating.
263 nitwit A foolish or scatterbrained person.
264 nix Nothing, zero.
265 nub The central point or essence of a matter.
266 Oder A river running through central Europe, forming part of the border between Germany and Poland before reaching...
267 ogle To stare at someone or something in an obvious, often lustful or admiring way.
268 ohm The standard unit of electrical resistance.
269 Oktoberfest A large beer festival held in Munich, Germany, each year in late September and early October, famous for its b...
270 oof An exclamation imitating the sound of air being forced out, as if someone has been struck or startled.
271 opa An informal, affectionate word for grandfather.
272 Oppenheimer A person from the German town of Oppenheim.
273 ouch Used to express sudden physical pain.
274 overseas Located in or coming from another country, typically across the sea.
275 ozone A form of oxygen with three atoms per molecule instead of the usual two, found in a protective layer high in t...
276 paltry So small in amount or value as to be almost insulting; trivial or worthless.
277 Petter Someone who pets or strokes an animal affectionately.
278 Pez A brand of small, rectangular candy tablets dispensed one at a time from a spring-loaded plastic dispenser, of...
279 Pfeiffer A German surname originally denoting an occupational name for a piper.
280 philistine A person seen as indifferent or hostile to art, literature, and culture, and who has conventional or unrefined...
281 phooey An exclamation showing disgust, dismissal, or disappointment.
282 Picker An occupational surname originally given to someone who worked with a pick or pickaxe.
283 pickle A cucumber or other vegetable preserved in vinegar or brine.
284 Pilates A system of controlled exercises focused on core strength, flexibility, and posture, developed in the early 19...
285 Planck Used to describe units, constants, or formulas named after the physicist Max Planck, especially in quantum the...
286 plankton Tiny, often microscopic organisms that drift passively in water rather than swimming against currents.
287 Plants An English surname, an Americanized spelling of the German surname Pflanz.
288 plunder To steal goods from a place by force, typically during war or unrest.
289 poltergeist A supposed ghost or spirit blamed for noises and the mysterious movement of objects.
290 pooch Informal word for a dog, especially a mongrel or family pet.
291 poodle A breed of dog with a thick, curly coat, bred originally for hunting and known for its intelligence.
292 Porsche A make of German sports car known for speed, style, and a high price tag.
293 Prague The capital and largest city of the Czech Republic.
294 privatization The process of moving a business, service, or industry from government ownership into private hands.
295 Probst A German surname, originally meaning "provost".
296 prop An object used to support something, or to keep it in place.
297 psychoanalysis A therapy method, originated by Freud, that explores unconscious thoughts and childhood experiences to explain...
298 psychopath A person with a severe personality disorder marked by manipulation, lack of empathy, and disregard for others'...
299 pumpernickel A dense, dark German bread made from rye.
300 quark In particle physics, one of the fundamental building blocks that combine to form protons, neutrons, and simila...