Boot
/boːt/neuter
The English word boat can be translated into German as Boot or Schiff.
Meaning: water craft (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Boot | /boːt/ | neuter |
| Schiff | /ʃɪf/ | neuter |
Both terms refer to a water craft.
Which one should you use?
Use Boot for smaller watercraft like rowboats or motorboats, whereas Schiff is used for larger vessels like ships.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Boot is Boote.
How do you pronounce it?
/boːt/
Did you know?
- The German word Schiff is used to describe the central part of a church, known in English as the 'nave'. This is a semantic loan from the Latin word nāvis, meaning 'ship'.
- Because 'Schiff' and 'Boot' are used so differently, using the wrong one can make you sound like you are calling a tiny rowboat a giant ocean liner.
Examples in context
- Das ist ein Boot.That is a boat.Tatoeba #1126599 by Esperantostern, translation #1097995 by cntrational
- Tom hat ein Boot.Tom has a boat.Tatoeba #3784922 by Zaghawa, translation #3592917 by CK
- Das Boot ist voll.The boat is full.Tatoeba #805067 by BraveSentry, translation #8910508 by sundown
- Kann ich mir ein Boot mieten?Can I rent a boat?
- Das Schiff fährt über den Fluss.The boat is sailing across the river.
- Lass uns mit dem Kutter zum Angeln rausfahren!Let's take the boat and go fishing!
- Wir haben einen Kahn am See.We have a boat at the lake.
- Fährst du gerne mit dem Bötchen auf dem Fluss?Do you enjoy riding the small boat on the river?
- 194 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Laura are standing by a lake.
- MaximilianSchau mal, Laura, das Boot dort ist schön.Look, Laura, that boat there is beautiful.
- LauraJa, das Boot sieht sehr stabil aus.Yes, the boat looks very stable.
- MaximilianWollen wir es heute mieten?Do we want to rent it today?
- LauraGerne, ich möchte gerne fahren.Gladly, I would like to go for a ride.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boat” translations and entries Boot, Schiff, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Boot, Schiff, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
