Ways to say it
| German | Note |
|---|---|
| neumodischer Apparat | masculine |
| irres Gerät | neuter |
| seltsame Vorrichtung | feminine |
A contraption refers to a complicated and precarious machine. In German, you can describe such a device using several different nuances. Apparat can be used to describe a device with various interconnected parts. Gerät is a very versatile term for a machine or device, ranging from a simple tool to a complex contraption. If you are referring to an unimportant or unknown object with a touch of disdain, you might use the word Gedöns, which is similar to the English 'dingus'. For a more playful or informal way to say 'thingamajig' or 'whatchamacallit', you can use Dingsda.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase neumodischer Apparat literally translates to 'modern-style apparatus' and is often used with a hint of irony to imply something is unnecessarily complex or 'new-fangled'. The phrase seltsame Vorrichtung literally means 'strange mechanism', which focuses on the oddity of the machine's design.
Which one should you use?
neumodischer Apparat is a masculine noun. irres Gerät is a neuter noun. seltsame Vorrichtung is a feminine noun.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase irres Gerät, the adjective irr (crazy) takes the '-es' ending to match the neuter gender of the noun Gerät in the nominative case. In the phrase seltsame Vorrichtung, the adjective seltsam (strange) takes the '-e' ending to match the feminine gender of the noun Vorrichtung in the nominative case.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Herr Schmidt hat einen komplizierten Mechanismus gebaut, um das Problem zu lösen. Seine Konstruktion ist wirklich beeindruckend!Mr. Schmidt built a complicated mechanism to solve the problem. His contraption is truly impressive!
- Ich brauche dieses komische Gedöns, um die Tür zu öffnen.I need this weird contraption to open the door.
- Was ist das für ein neumodischer Apparat?What kind of modern contraption is that?
Example conversation
Julian shows Hannah a strange new kitchen gadget.
- JulianSchau mal, das ist ein neumodischer Apparat.Look, this is a fancy contraption.
- HannahWas macht man damit, Julian?What do you do with that, Julian?
- JulianMan kann damit Äpfel schälen.You can peel apples with it.
- HannahDas sieht viel zu kompliziert aus.That looks way too complicated.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “contraption” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Apparat, Gerät, Vorrichtung, CC BY-SA 4.0.
