Büstenhalter
/ˈbʏstənhaltər/masculine
The German word for bra is Büstenhalter. Wiktionary also lists BH and Busenhalter.
Meaning: brassiere (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Büstenhalter | /ˈbʏstənhaltər/ | masculine |
| BH | /beˈhaː/ /ˈbeːha/ |
abbreviation, masculine |
| Busenhalter | /ˈb̥uːsn̩haltɐ/ (Austria) | colloquial, masculine |
The term refers to a brassiere.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Büstenhalter is a compound formed from Büste, meaning bust and Halter, meaning holder.
Which one should you use?
While Büstenhalter is the full, formal term, BH is a much more common abbreviation used in everyday speech. The term Busenhalter is a more colloquial and slightly more old-fashioned variation of Büstenhalter.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Büstenhalter is a common and widely used term that is considered formal. Busenhalter is a colloquial, dated option and Brusthalter serves as a formal term.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of the abbreviation BH is BHs.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbʏstənhaltər/
Did you know?
- The abbreviation BH is so common in German that it is pronounced as two separate letters, 'be-ha', rather than as a single word.
- The term Büstenhalter evokes a very literal image, as it describes the garment specifically as a 'bust holder'.
- The abbreviation BH is an initialism derived from either Büstenhalter or Busenhalter.
Examples in context
- Das ist ein Bügel-BH.This is an underwire bra.This sentence shows how to use the abbreviation BH with the word for underwire.Tatoeba #9137140 by Yorwba, translation #11162084 by jummy
- Mein BH ist schmutzig.My bra is dirty.This sentence uses the abbreviation BH to describe a dirty item.Tatoeba #4965689 by ieflicca, translation #4965687 by ieflicca
- Dieser BH ist trägerlos.This bra is strapless.This sentence demonstrates the use of the abbreviation BH when describing a strapless garment.Tatoeba #9137163 by Yorwba, translation #11023130 by sundown
- Kannst du bitte meinen Büstenhalter holen?Can you please fetch my bra?
- Ich muss noch einen neuen BH kaufen.I still need to buy a new bra.
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Julian are shopping for clothing in a boutique.
- JuliaJulian, siehst du diesen schönen Büstenhalter?Julian, do you see this beautiful brassiere?
- JulianJa, Julia, er sieht sehr elegant aus.Yes, Julia, it looks very elegant.
- JuliaIch finde, der Büstenhalter passt zu mir.I think the brassiere suits me.
- JulianDann kauf ihn doch, meine Liebe.Then go ahead and buy it, my dear.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bra” translations and entries Büstenhalter, BH, Busenhalter, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries BH, Busenhalter, Büstenhalter, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
