Badminton
neuter
The English phrase badminton is translated into German as Badminton or Federball.
Meaning: a racquet sport (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Badminton | neuter | |
| Federball | /ˈfeːdɐˌbal/ | masculine |
What does it mean word for word?
The colloquial term Federball is a compound noun made of Feder, meaning feather and Ball, meaning ball.
Which one should you use?
Badminton is the standard term used for the competitive sport. Federball is a more colloquial term often used to describe the casual, recreational activity of hitting a shuttlecock back and forth.
How does it change in a sentence?
Badminton is a neuter noun. Its definite article is das and its indefinite article is ein. Federball is a masculine noun. Its definite article is der and its indefinite article is ein.
Did you know?
- In Germany, Federball is often used to describe a backyard activity where the goal is simply to keep the shuttlecock in the air, rather than playing a competitive match with a net.
- The German word Feder in Federball is a cognate of the English word 'feather', coming from the same Proto-Germanic root.
- Because Federball is a masculine noun and Badminton is neuter, the articles and adjectives used to describe the game change completely depending on which word is chosen.
Examples in context
- Er spielt sehr gut Badminton.He plays badminton very well.This sentence shows how to express that someone plays Badminton well.Tatoeba #13059852 by Vortarulo, translation #12568850 by omerfarukckmk
- Sie spielen hier oft Federball.They play badminton here often.This sentence illustrates the use of Federball to describe playing the sport.Tatoeba #10720387 by Yorwba, translation #13103160 by araneo
- Hey, Fred, wie wär’s mit Badminton am Donnerstag?Hi, Fred, how about badminton on Thursday?This sentence is an example of suggesting a game of Badminton.Tatoeba #2990498 by pne, translation #30312 by CP
- Hast du schon mal Badminton gespielt?Have you ever played badminton?
- Lust, heute Federball zu spielen?Want to play badminton today?
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Felix are at a sports club.
- SarahMöchtest du heute Badminton spielen?Do you want to play badminton today?
- FelixJa, ich liebe Badminton!Yes, I love badminton!
- SarahHast du deine Schläger dabei?Do you have your racquets with you?
- FelixNein, ich muss sie noch holen.No, I still need to go get them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “badminton” translations and entries Badminton, Federball, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
