Sports Vocabulary in GermanWords around Football, Tennis & more
Germany has a rich history of sports and is home to many popular sports teams and athletes. Some common sports in Germany include soccer (Fußball), basketball (Basketball), handball (Handball), and tennis (Tennis).
This is why in this post, we're going to have a look at German sports vocabulary and German words & expressions that are related to sport & physical activity.
German Sports Vocabulary
Let's start with some very general German sports vocabulary. How would you express, that you simply love doing sports or that you are quite a sporty person?
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Sport treiben | |
| Sport machen | |
| ein Spiel spielen | |
| sportlich sein | |
| der Ballsport |
Names for Sports in German
Learning the vocabulary for the names for sports in German can be very helpful for sports fans who don't want to give up on their favourite sport after having moved to Germany.
Here is a vocabulary list of several types of sports:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der Fußball | football / soccer |
| das Tennis | tennis |
| das Golf | golf |
| der Basketball | basketball |
| der Baseball | baseball |
| das Skifahren | skiing |
| das Laufen | running |
| der Marathon | marathon |
| Volleyball | volleyball |
| das Gewichtheben | weightlifting |
| die Leichtathletik | athletics |
| der Kampfsport | martial art |
| der Tanz | dance |
Sports Equipment in German
Knowing the vocabulary for sports gear in German can be helpful for a variety of reasons. If you are traveling to a German-speaking country and are looking to participate in a particular sport, understanding the terms for the necessary equipment is essential.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der Tennisball | |
| der Tennisschläger | |
| der Basketballkorb | |
| die Skier (pl.) | |
| das Surfboard | |
| das Skateboard |
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der Schutzhandschuh | protective glove |
| der Mundschutz | mouth guard |
| der Helm | helmet |
| die Schwimmbrille | swimming goggles |
| der Fußballschuh | soccer cleat |
| der Reithelm | riding helmet |
| das Skateboard | skateboard |
| das Baseballschläger | baseball bat |
| der Golfschläger | golf club |
| das Tennisracket | tennis racket |
| der Handschuh | glove |
| der Skistock | ski pole |
| die Laufschuhe | running shoes |
Also: If you know that der Helm is a helmet and der Schutzhandschuh is a protective glove, you can more easily understand the safety precautions of a particular sport.
Protective Gear
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der Schutzhandschuh | protective glove |
| der Mundschutz | mouth guard |
| die Schienbeinschoner | shin guards |
| die Knieschoner | knee pads |
| das Stirnband | headband |
| der Helm | helmet |
| die Schulterpolster | shoulder pads |
| der Brustschutz | chest protector |
| die Schutzbrille | protective goggles |
Football Vocabulary
German Sports Verbs
In German, there are many verbs that are related to sports and physical activity. Some common sports verbs include spielen (to play), laufen (to run), springen (to jump), schwimmen (to swim), and fahren (to drive or ride).
There are also many German verbs that are related to specific sports, such as boxen (to box), schiessen (to shoot [in basketball or soccer]), and werfen (to throw [in handball or baseball]).
| German | English |
|---|---|
| dribbeln | |
| schießen | |
| daneben schießen | |
| schlagen | |
| rennen | |
| laufen | |
| ein Eigentor machen | |
| sich anstrengen | |
| jdn. einwechseln |
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der Schiedsrichter | |
| die Pfeife | |
| das Spielfeld | |
| das Fußballfeld | |
| das Turnier | |
| die Siegerehrung | |
| der Wettkampf | |
| der Verein | |
| die Mannschaft | |
| das Ergebnis | |
| der Spielstand | |
| das Abseits | |
| das Aus | |
| der Alleingang |