Clown
/klaʊ̯n/masculine
The English word "clown" is Clown in German. Wiktionary also lists Clownin.
Meaning: performance artist working in a circus (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Clown | /klaʊ̯n/ /kloːn/ |
masculine |
| Clownin | feminine |
A Clown is a performance artist working in a circus. Do not confuse this with a Hofnarr, which refers to a court jester, an entertainer who traditionally performed for royalty and the noble class.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form is Clown and the feminine form is Clownin. The plural of Clown is Clowns.
How do you pronounce it?
/klaʊ̯n/
Did you know?
- If you use Clown to describe a person in a social situation, it is often used as a derogatory insult meaning someone is acting foolish or ridiculous.
- In some contexts, clownen can be used as a verb meaning to mess around or waste time, treating the noun as an action.
- The term Clown is used in the phrase Sich zum Clown machen, which means to make a fool of oneself. It implies a public loss of dignity rather than just a mistake.
Examples in context
- Tom ist ein Clown.Tom is a clown.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as a Clown.Tatoeba #11141702 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #6769162 by Hybrid
- Ich bin kein Clown.I'm not a clown.This sentence is useful for denying that one is a Clown.Tatoeba #13709128 by Waldelfe, translation #11040562 by CK
- Er war wie ein Clown geschminkt.He was painted like a clown.This sentence is useful for describing someone who was made up to look like a Clown.Tatoeba #3386349 by al_ex_an_der, translation #3406678 by corvard
- Schau mal, der kleine Kasper macht alberne Gesichter!Look, the little clown is making silly faces!
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Julian are watching a circus show.
- HannahSchau mal, der Clown ist so lustig!Look, the clown is so funny!
- JulianJa, er macht viele tolle Kunststücke.Yes, he is doing many great tricks.
- HannahWillst du ein Foto vom Clown machen?Do you want to take a photo of the clown?
- JulianNein, ich genieße lieber die Show.No, I prefer to enjoy the show.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clown” translations and entries Clown, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
