Wolke
/ˈvɔlkə/feminine
The English word 'cloud' is translated into German as Wolke. Wiktionary also lists Gewölk and Wulche.
Meaning: visible mass of water droplets suspended in the air (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Wolke | /ˈvɔlkə/ | feminine |
| Gewölk | /ɡəˈvœlk/ | collective, neuter |
| Wulche | Alemannic German, feminine | |
| Woikn | feminine |
The word refers to a visible mass of water droplets suspended in the air.
Which one should you use?
While Wolke refers to an individual cloud, Gewölk is a collective noun used to describe a mass or a heavy layer of clouds.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Alemannic German-speaking regions, you may encounter the dialectal variation Wulche for a single cloud or the dialectal plural form Woikn for clouds.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Wolke is Wolken.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈvɔlkə/
Did you know?
- In German, the term Wolkenkratzer is used for a skyscraper, which literally translates to 'cloud scraper'.
- The English word 'welkin', which refers to the sky or heavens, is a direct linguistic relative of the German Wolke.
- In some German-speaking regions, the term Wolkenbruch is used to describe a sudden, violent downpour of rain rather than just the clouds themselves.
Examples in context
- Die Wolke ist grau.The cloud is grey.This sentence is useful for describing the color of a Wolke.Tatoeba #3325844 by al_ex_an_der, translation #4902370 by venticello
- Die Wolkendecke brach auf.The cloud broke up.This sentence is useful for describing the breaking up of a Wolke.Tatoeba #749739 by Manfredo, translation #8533293 by sundown
- Welche Farbe hat die Wolke?What colour is the cloud?This sentence is useful for asking about the color of a Wolke.Tatoeba #3325978 by al_ex_an_der, translation #3352452 by mrtaistoi
- 63 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Maximilian are looking at the sky in a park.
- SarahSiehst du die Wolke dort?Do you see the cloud over there?
- MaximilianJa, sie ist sehr groß.Yes, it is very big.
- SarahIch glaube, es regnet gleich.I think it will rain soon.
- MaximilianDu hast recht, Sarah.You are right, Sarah.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cloud” translations and entries Wolke, Gewölk, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Gewölk, Wolke, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
