Unglaube
/ˈʊnˌɡlaʊ̯bə/masculine
The English phrase disbelief is translated into German as Unglaube.
Unglaube refers to the state of unpreparedness, unwillingness or inability to believe that something is the case.
Meaning: unpreparedness, unwillingness, or inability to believe that something is the case (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the prefix un- (un-) and Glaube (belief or faith).
Which one should you use?
While Unglaube can mean a general state of disbelief, it is often used in a more philosophical or religious sense to indicate a lack of faith. If you are describing the psychological state of being stunned or unable to believe a piece of news, Fassungslosigkeit is the more common term.
How does it change in a sentence?
When used in the accusative case, the masculine noun Unglaube often undergoes a weak declension and appears as den Unglauben.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʊnˌɡlaʊ̯bə/
Did you know?
- While Unglaube denotes a lack of faith, the word Fassungslosigkeit literally describes the state of having lost one's 'grasp' or 'frame' of a situation.
- Because Unglaube has strong religious connotations, using it to express surprise at a magic trick might sound unintentionally dramatic or theological.
- The German word Unglaube is a direct cognate of the archaic English word 'unbelief', meaning they share the same ancient linguistic ancestor.
Examples in context
- Das kann doch nicht wahr sein!That can't be true!
- Echt jetzt?Seriously?
- Komm schon!Come on!
- Ein tiefer Unglaube lag in seinem Blick.A deep disbelief lay in his gaze.
Example conversation
Laura tells Lukas that she won the lottery.
- LauraLukas, ich habe im Lotto gewonnen!Lukas, I won the lottery!
- LukasDas ist unglaublich. Ich bin in Unglaube.That is unbelievable. I am in disbelief.
- LauraEs ist wirklich wahr, schau hier!It is really true, look here!
- LukasIch kann es immer noch nicht glauben.I still cannot believe it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “disbelief” translations and entries Unglaube, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Unglaube, CC BY-SA 4.0.
