segnen
/ˈzeːɡnən/
To bless in German is to segnen. If unsure, use segnen. Wiktionary also lists benedeien.
Meaning: confer blessing on (verb)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| segnen | /ˈzeːɡnən/ /ˈzeːknən/ (Germany, common) |
|
| benedeien | /benəˈdaɪ̯ən/ | obsolete |
The verb is used to confer a blessing upon someone or something. In certain cultural contexts, particularly when wishing someone luck before a performance, people might use the idiomatic phrase Hals- und Beinbruch, which literally translates to "break a neck and a leg."
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Bavarian dialects, you may hear Gott segn' di instead of the standard Gott segne dich. In Swiss German, the phrase Gott beschütz di is commonly used to mean "God bless you".
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈzeːɡnən/
When do people say it?
When wishing someone good luck, especially before a performance in parts of Germany, it is common to say Hals- und Beinbruch.
Did you know?
- The German word segnen is related to the Latin 'signare', meaning 'to mark with a sign'.
- While segnen is the general term, the related root of benedeien is what gave English the word 'benediction'.
Examples in context
- Er wird es nehmen und segnen.He will take it and bless it.This sentence shows the use of segnen.Tatoeba #2912293 by al_ex_an_der, translation #7155428 by Kiwi
- Möge Gott Sie und Ihre Familie segnen!May God bless you and your family.This sentence provides an example of a blessing for someone and their family using segnen.Tatoeba #12408060 by Waldelfe, translation #8881700 by Ricardo14
- Möge Gott weiterhin die Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika segnen.May God continue to bless the United States of America.This sentence uses segnen in a blessing for a country.Tatoeba #11185299 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #5761694 by Hybrid
- Ich fühle mich gesegnet, solch wunderbare Freunde zu haben.I feel blessed to have such wonderful friends.
- Wir wünschen Ihnen alles Gute auf Ihrer Reise, Gott schütze Sie!We wish you all the best on your journey, God bless you!
- Möge Gott dich segnen und beschützen auf deiner Lebensreise.May God bless and protect you on your journey through life.
- Viel Glück bei deiner Prüfung! Gott segne dich!Good luck on your exam! God bless you!
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A priest is finishing a ceremony in a small village church.
- SarahDer Priester wird die Gemeinde segnen.The priest will bless the congregation.
- MaximilianDas ist eine sehr schöne Geste.That is a very beautiful gesture.
- SarahEr möchte auch Maximilian segnen.He wants to bless Maximilian too.
- MaximilianDas wird ihm sicher guttun.That will surely do him good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bless” translations and entries segnen, benedeien, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries benedeien, segnen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
