Schloss
/ʃlɔs/neuter
The English word castle is translated into German as Schloss or Burg.
Meaning: fortified building (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Schloss | /ʃlɔs/ | neuter |
| Burg | /bʊʁk/ /b̥ʊrɡ̊/ |
feminine |
Both words refer to a castle, but they describe different types of structures. Burg is used to describe a medieval or historic fortified castle designed for defense. Schloss refers to both castles and palaces, often used for large, non-fortified stately residences or palaces.
Which one should you use?
The choice between the two words depends on the building's historical function. Use Burg when referring to a medieval, fortified castle. Use Schloss when referring to a palace or a stately home.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Burg is a feminine noun. Its plural form is Burgen. Schloss is a neuter noun. Its plural form is Schlösser. In a related context, the verb rochieren means to castle in the game of chess.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃlɔs/
Did you know?
- In German, the word Schloss refers to both a royal palace and a simple door lock.
- The word Burg is a distant relative of the English terms 'borough' and the suffix '-bury' found in many town names.
- If a medieval Burg was renovated in later centuries to be a comfortable residence without walls, its name would often change to Schloss.
Examples in context
- Die Burg wird belagert.The castle is under siege.This sentence shows Burg being used in the context of a siege.Tatoeba #6127596 by Espi, translation #6033920 by mailohilohi
- Das ist eine alte Burg.This is an ancient castle.This sentence uses Burg to describe an ancient castle.Tatoeba #10172177 by Yorwba, translation #10673884 by Scotth123
- Er wohnt auf dem Schloß.He lives in the castle.This sentence shows Schloss being used to describe a place of residence.Tatoeba #13309146 by Waldelfe, translation #12176058 by always
- Das Schloss Neuschwanstein ist ein berühmtes Schloss in Bayern.The Neuschwanstein Castle is a famous castle in Bavaria.
- Wir haben heute eine Burg besichtigt, und sie war beeindruckend!We visited a castle today, and it was impressive!
- 158 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are walking through a small German town.
- SarahSiehst du das große Schloss dort?Do you see the large castle there?
- LukasJa, das Schloss sieht wunderschön aus.Yes, the castle looks beautiful.
- SarahWollen wir das Schloss besuchen?Do we want to visit the castle?
- LukasLass uns das Schloss erkunden.Let's explore the castle.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “castle” translations and entries Schloss, Burg, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Burg, Schloss, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
