Ball
/bal/masculine
The German word for ball is Ball. Wiktionary also lists Boi and Kugel.
Meaning: object, generally spherical, used for playing games (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ball | /bal/ | masculine |
| Boi | ||
| Kugel | /ˈkuːɡəl/ | feminine, hard |
The word Ball refers to an object, generally spherical, used for playing games.
Which one should you use?
Ball is used for balls used in sports or play, whereas Kugel refers to a solid sphere or a geometric ball-shaped object.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun Ball forms its plural as Bälle. In the singular genitive case, it takes the ending -s, resulting in des Balls.
How do you pronounce it?
/bal/
Did you know?
- The root of Kugel is potentially linked to the word Kuhle, meaning 'hollow' or 'pit', through a shared Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to curve'.
- The German word Kugel can also be used to mean a bullet, which is an extension of the sense of a projectile being a hard, round object.
Examples in context
- Wo ist der Ball?Where's the ball?This sentence is useful for asking about the location of the Ball.Tatoeba #4020443 by pullnosemans, translation #3826379 by CK
- Er warf den Ball.He threw the ball.This sentence is useful for describing the action of throwing the Ball.Tatoeba #757954 by samueldora, translation #292712 by CK
- Gib mir den Ball!Give me the ball.This sentence is useful for requesting that someone hand you the Ball.Tatoeba #1636939 by al_ex_an_der, translation #1841172 by CK
- Der Ball ist rund und aus Leder.The ball is round and made of leather.
- Die Kinder spielen mit einer bunten Kugel.The children are playing with a colorful ball.
- Lass uns einen Ball zum Spielen mitbringen!Let's bring a ball to play with!
- Der Hund spielt gerne mit dem roten Ballchen.The dog loves playing with the small red ball.
- 301 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A park where two friends are preparing to play.
- JuliaHast du einen Ball dabei?Do you have a ball with you?
- FelixJa, der Ball liegt in der Tasche.Yes, the ball is in the bag.
- JuliaSuper, dann können wir spielen.Great, then we can play.
- FelixIch hole den Ball sofort.I will get the ball immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ball” translations and entries Ball, Kugel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Ball, Kugel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
