Kanone
/kaˈnoːnə/feminine
The German word for "cannon" is Kanone.
Kanone refers to an artillery piece. A related compound noun, Kanonenbeschuss, specifically describes the act of cannon fire or shelling. There is also a common German idiom, "mit Kanonen auf Spatzen schießen" (to shoot cannons at sparrows), which is used to describe an overreaction or using excessive force to deal with a small problem.
Meaning: artillery piece (noun)
Which one should you use?
While Kanone is the standard term, Geschütz is a more formal term used for artillery. Geschütz is also often used when referring to larger and more powerful artillery pieces.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of Kanone is Kanonen.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaˈnoːnə/
Did you know?
- In German slang, Kanone is used to describe a very attractive person, similar to calling someone a 'bombshell' in English.
- The word Kanone shares an ancestor with the English word 'can', as both stem from the same Latin root for a reed or tube.
- In German, the term Kanon (without the 'e' at the end) refers to a collection of rules or musical pieces rather than weaponry.
Examples in context
- In der Ferne donnern Kanonenschüsse.Cannon fire is thundering in the distance.This sentence shows how to describe the sound of cannon fire in the distance using Kanone.Tatoeba #3474181 by al_ex_an_der, translation #11866891 by sundown
- Man soll nicht mit Kanonen auf Spatzen schießen.Never use a cannon to kill a fly.This sentence provides the German idiom about using excessive force, involving Kanone.Tatoeba #458042 by Espi, translation #458038 by qcomplex5
- Es scheint ein Schrubber für die Kanone zu sein.It seems to be a swab for the cannon.This sentence shows how to refer to an object used for the maintenance of a Kanone.Tatoeba #12642020 by Yorwba, translation #8666609 by ajje
- Im Zweiten Weltkrieg verließ sich die deutsche Armee stark auf ihre Kanonen, um Artillerieunterstützung zu bieten.In World War II, the German army heavily relied on their cannons to provide artillery support.
- Während der Nachstellung feuerten sie die Kanone ab und erzeugten einen lauten Knall.During the reenactment, they fired the cannon, creating a loud bang.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A museum guide shows two people a historic exhibit.
- JulianDas hier ist eine alte Kanone.This here is an old cannon.
- JuliaIst die Kanone aus Eisen?Is the cannon made of iron?
- JulianJa, sie ist sehr schwer.Yes, it is very heavy.
- JuliaJulian, schau dir die Details an!Julian, look at the details!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cannon” translations and entries Kanone, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Kanone, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
