Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| mutig | /ˈmuːtɪç/ /ˈmuːtɪk/ (Austria, Southern Germany, southern Germany) |
| tapfer | /ˈtapfər/ |
The word is used to describe someone who is strong in the face of fear. Related terms include the verb trotzen, which means to encounter something with courage and the noun Krieger, which refers to a native American warrior.
What does it mean word for word?
The adjective mutig is derived from the noun Mut, which means courage.
Which one should you use?
While mutig is the standard word for being brave in a general sense, tapfer often implies a specific kind of bravery, such as enduring pain, hardship or a long struggle with fortitude.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective mutig changes its ending based on the case, gender and article used in a sentence. For example, when used as an attributive adjective before a feminine noun, it takes the ending -e, as in eine mutige Frau (a brave woman).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmuːtɪç/
Did you know?
- While brave in English means courageous, the German word brav actually means 'well-behaved' or 'obedient'. Calling a grown adult brav can sound condescending, as it is typically used for children and dogs.
- The word mutig shares a deep linguistic root with the English word 'mood', as both stem from the Proto-Germanic word for 'mind' or 'spirit'.
- If you call a child ein tapferer kleiner Mann, you are not just saying they are brave, but often complimenting them on how well they handle a difficult situation like a doctor's visit.
Examples in context
- Tom ist so mutig.Tom is so brave.This example shows how to use mutig to describe a person.Tatoeba #10248136 by wolfgangth, translation #5758311 by CM
- Er ist sehr mutig.He is very brave.This example shows how to use mutig with an intensifier.Tatoeba #2031381 by Zaghawa, translation #291595 by CK
- Das ist sehr mutig.That's very brave.This example shows how to use mutig to describe an action or situation.Tatoeba #11227020 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #11642376 by sundown
- Der tapfere Feuerwehrmann rettete das Kind aus dem brennenden Haus.The brave firefighter rescued the child from the burning house.
- Sie ist eine mutige Aktivistin und setzt sich für soziale Gerechtigkeit ein.She is a brave activist who fights for social justice.
- Hast du das gesehen? Er hat sich gegen alle gestellt, mutig wie ein Löwe!Did you see that? He stood up against everyone, brave like a lion!
- Das war echt tapfer von ihm, sich seinen Ängsten zu stellen.It was really brave of him to confront his fears.
- 151 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Felix are discussing a difficult decision at work.
- SarahWar er mutig in der Sitzung?Was he brave in the meeting?
- FelixJa, er war sehr mutig.Yes, he was very brave.
- SarahDas war wirklich mutig von ihm.That was really brave of him.
- FelixIch finde ihn auch mutig.I think he is brave too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brave” translations and entries mutig, tapfer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mutig, tapfer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
