Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Riese | /ˈʁiːzə/ | masculine |
| Riesin | /ˈʁiːzɪn/ | feminine |
| Gigant | [ɡiˈɡant] (narrow) | masculine |
| Gigantin | feminine |
In German, the term for a giant refers to a mythical human. While the noun refers to the creature itself, there are related adjectives such as riesig and gigantisch used to describe things of giant proportions.
Which one should you use?
Riese is the standard term for a mythical giant. In contrast, Gigant often implies something of an immense, overwhelming scale or a person of great stature. To describe something as being of giant proportions, you should use the adjective riesig rather than the noun Riese.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun is Riese. If you are referring to a female giant, use the feminine form Riesin. For the word Gigant, the feminine form is Gigantin. When Riese is used as a prefix for compound nouns, such as when describing a giant panda or a giant stuffed animal, it often takes the form Riesen-.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʁiːzə/
Did you know?
- The term Riesen- is frequently used as an intensifier in casual speech, such as Riesenhunger for 'huge hunger' or Riesenglück for 'great luck'.
- The German word Riese shares a common ancestor with the Norwegian word rise, which refers specifically to a 'mountain troll' rather than just a large human.
- In some German dialects, a Riese might be referred to as a Hüne, a word that emphasizes a lean and powerful stature rather than just bulk.
Examples in context
- Jupiter ist ein Riesenplanet.Jupiter is a giant planet.This sentence shows how Riese can be used as a prefix in a compound noun.Tatoeba #5253844 by Tamy, translation #5253778 by Hybrid
- Riesenpandas leben nur in China.Giant pandas live only in China.Tatoeba #568452 by samueldora, translation #34949 by CK
- Ich habe ein Riesenpandakuscheltier.I have a giant stuffed panda bear.Tatoeba #11580240 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2722522 by Hybrid
- Nach dem Märchen war der Riese freundlich und hilfsbereit.According to the fairy tale, the giant was friendly and helpful.
- Der antike Tempel wurde von einem gewaltigen Koloss bewacht.The ancient temple was guarded by a mighty giant.
- Der Vergnügungspark hatte eine gigantische Achterbahn.The amusement park had a gigantic roller coaster.
- 31 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a new fantasy movie.
- JulianIst der Riese in dem Film böse?Is the giant in the movie evil?
- SarahNein, er ist ein guter Riese.No, he is a good giant.
- JulianDer Riese sieht sehr stark aus.The giant looks very strong.
- SarahJa, er ist wirklich beeindruckend.Yes, he is really impressive.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “giant” translations and entries Riese, Riesin, Gigant, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Riese, Riesin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
