dumm
/dʊm/
The German word for dumb is dumm.
dumm is the simplest and most frequently used translation of dumb in German, meaning lacking intelligence. You can use the reflexive idiom sich dumm stellen to express the concept of playing dumb.
Meaning: stupid (adj)
Which one should you use?
Do not use dumm to mean someone who is unable to speak or is being silent. In those cases, the correct word is stumm. While dumm refers to intelligence, the colloquial term doof is used to express that someone is being silly, dumb, awkward or clumsy.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective dumm changes its ending based on the noun it describes. It takes the ending -e when used before a feminine or plural noun in the nominative case, such as eine dumme Idee. It takes the ending -en in many inflected forms, such as the masculine accusative einen dummen Fehler or in the dative case.
How do you pronounce it?
/dʊm/
Did you know?
- The archaic and poetic form of the word is tumb, which is a rare sight in modern everyday German.
- The word dumm can be combined with other nouns to create colorful insults, such as Dummkopf for a blockhead or Dummköpfigkeit for stupidity.
- Using the phrase sich dumm stellen is a common social strategy in Germany to avoid responsibility or awkwardness by pretending not to understand a situation.
Examples in context
- Tom ist nicht dumm.Tom isn't dumb.This sentence shows how to negate the adjective dumm.Tatoeba #1938223 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2236962 by CK
- Er ist dumm wie Brot.He's dumb as a rock.This sentence uses a common simile with dumm.Tatoeba #11491522 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #9754832 by Hybrid
- Ich stellte mich dumm.I played dumb.This sentence demonstrates the reflexive construction for the phrase 'to play dumb' using dumm.Tatoeba #6373866 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #5373076 by Hybrid
- Er ist so dummHe is so dumb
- Das ist echt blödThat is really dumb
- Bist du doof?Are you dumb?
- Peter ist nicht besonders intelligentPeter is not particularly intelligent
- Die Entscheidung war ungeschicktThe decision was unwise
- Er ist so dumm wie BohnenstrohHe is as dumb as a doornail
- Das war wirklich blöd von dirThat was really dumb of you
- 63 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Maximilian are discussing a difficult math problem.
- LauraDas ist eine echt dumm formulierte Frage.That is a really stupidly phrased question.
- MaximilianJa, ich finde sie auch dumm.Yes, I think it is stupid too.
- LauraBist du vielleicht zu dumm für die Aufgabe?Are you perhaps too stupid for the task?
- MaximilianNein, die Aufgabe ist einfach nur schlecht.No, the task is just bad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dumb” translations and entries dumm, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dumm, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
