Bad
/baːt/neuter
The German word for bath is Bad. Wiktionary also lists Baden.
Meaning: act of bathing (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bad | /baːt/ /bat/ |
neuter |
| Baden | /ˈbaːdən/ | neuter |
The noun Bad is used to describe the act of bathing or the bath itself. You can also use the related verb baden, which means to bathe.
Which one should you use?
Use Bad when referring to the act or the event of bathing. If you are referring to the physical room where one bathes, the correct word is Badezimmer.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Bad is Bäder. Both Bad and Baden are neuter nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/baːt/
Did you know?
- While Bad means 'bath', it is also used as a prefix for many German towns, such as Bad Homburg, to signal that the town is an officially recognized spa or health resort.
- The city and state of Baden share a name with the act of bathing, but its name actually derives from the Old High German word badu, meaning 'battle' or 'strife'.
- If you ask for a Bad in a hotel, you might get a description of a spa or a thermal facility rather than just a bathtub.
Examples in context
- Er nahm ein Bad.He took a bath.This example shows how to use Bad to say someone took a bath.Tatoeba #9985529 by wolfgangth, translation #8478106 by CH
- Ich nahm ein Bad.I was taking a bath.This example shows how to use Bad to describe the act of taking a bath.Tatoeba #1888538 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1887937 by CK
- Er nimmt ein Bad.He's having a bath.This example shows how to use Bad to say someone is currently having a bath.Tatoeba #8320751 by MisterTrouser, translation #12572954 by sundown
- Ich gehe gleich baden.I'm going to take a bath soon.
- Er badet oft am Abend.He often bathes in the evening.
- 314 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Maximilian are talking in their living room after a long day.
- SarahIch brauche jetzt ein heißes Bad.I need a hot bath now.
- MaximilianEin Bad klingt sehr gut, Sarah.A bath sounds very good, Sarah.
- SarahMöchtest du auch ein Bad nehmen?Would you like to take a bath too?
- MaximilianNein, ich bin schon fertig.No, I am already finished.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bath” translations and entries Bad, Baden, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Bad, Baden, baden, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
