Besen
/ˈbeː.zn̩/masculine
The German word for broom is Besen. Wiktionary also lists Baasa and Bäse.
Meaning: domestic utensil (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Besen | /ˈbeː.zn̩/ (Germany) /ˈb̥eːsn̩/ (Austria) |
masculine |
| Baasa | ||
| Bäse |
Besen refers to a domestic utensil used for sweeping.
Which one should you use?
Baasa and Bäse are other forms of the word.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain German-speaking regions, the dialectal variation Bäse is used. In the Swabian (Schwäbisch) dialect, the term for broom is Der Heggel.
How does it change in a sentence?
Besen is a masculine noun, which means it takes the article der.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and the stress is on the first syllable: /ˈbeː.zn̩/.
Did you know?
- The phrase den Besen hinter die Tür stellen means to put the broom behind the door, which is a metaphorical way of saying someone is being dismissed or fired.
- In some German folklore, a Besen (broom) was believed to have the power to protect a house from evil spirits if placed near the entrance.
- The word Besen shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'besom', which is an archaic term for a small broom made of twigs.
Examples in context
- Ich hole den Besen.I'll go get the broom.This sentence is useful for expressing the intent to get a Besen.Tatoeba #2878550 by freddy1, translation #2878235 by CK
- Gib mir diesen Besen.Hand me that broom.This sentence is useful for asking someone to hand you a Besen.Tatoeba #5770314 by dasbeispielholz, translation #3826013 by CK
- Neue Besen kehren gut.A new broom sweeps clean.This sentence shows a proverb using the word Besen.Tatoeba #423275 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #423268 by Dejo
- Ich muss den Besen benutzen, um den Boden zu kehren.I have to use the broom to sweep the floor.
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Julia are cleaning their apartment.
- LukasJulia, hast du den Besen gesehen?Julia, have you seen the broom?
- JuliaJa, er liegt in der Küche.Yes, it is lying in the kitchen.
- LukasDanke, ich hole den Besen sofort.Thanks, I will get the broom immediately.
- JuliaGut, dann können wir endlich anfangen.Good, then we can finally start.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “broom” translations and entries Besen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Besen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
