Dämon
/ˈdɛːmɔn/masculine
The German word for demon is Dämon. Wiktionary also lists Teufel.
Meaning: evil being (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dämon | /ˈdɛːmɔn/ /ˈdeːmɔn/ |
masculine |
| Teufel | /ˈtɔɪ̯fəl/ | masculine |
The term is used to refer to an evil being or spirit.
Which one should you use?
While Dämon refers to a generic evil being or spirit, Teufel specifically refers to the Devil, the personification of evil in Christian contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Dämon is Dämonen. Because Teufel is an n-declension noun, it becomes Teufeln in the accusative, dative or genitive singular cases, such as in the phrase mit dem Teufel.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdɛːmɔn/
Did you know?
- The phrase den Teufel an die Wand malen means to be overly pessimistic or to invite bad luck by talking about it.
- In German folklore, the Teufel is often portrayed as a trickster who is easily outsmarted by a clever peasant, rather than just a source of pure evil.
- The German word Teufel is a distant relative of the English word 'devil', as both descend from the Ancient Greek word diábolos, meaning 'a slanderer'.
Examples in context
- Er ist ein Dämon.He's a demon.This sentence shows how to use Dämon to describe someone.Tatoeba #5069226 by al_ex_an_der, translation #5069224 by al_ex_an_der
- Ich bin ein Dämon.I'm a demon.This sentence shows how to use Dämon to describe oneself.Tatoeba #5069223 by al_ex_an_der, translation #5069222 by al_ex_an_der
- Der Dämon ist tot.The demon is dead.This sentence shows how to use Dämon in a sentence about its state.Tatoeba #8800378 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #3762148 by Hybrid
- In der Religion wird der Dämon als eine böse und übernatürliche Kraft angesehen.In religion, the demon is seen as an evil and supernatural force.
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Lukas are discussing a fantasy novel in a cafe.
- SarahIn dem Buch kämpft ein Held gegen einen Dämon.In the book, a hero fights against a demon.
- LukasIst dieser Dämon sehr stark?Is this demon very strong?
- SarahJa, er ist ein gefährlicher Dämon.Yes, he is a dangerous demon.
- LukasDas klingt nach einer spannenden Geschichte.That sounds like an exciting story.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “demon” translations and entries Dämon, Teufel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dämon, Teufel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
