Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Geschenk | /ɡəˈʃɛŋk/ | neuter |
| Präsent | /prɛˈzɛnt/ | neuter, rare |
| Spende | /ˈʃpɛndə/ (Germany) /ˈʃpɛndɛ/ (Austria, Southern Germany, Switzerland) |
feminine |
| Gabe | /ˈɡaːbə/ | feminine |
A gift refers to something given to another voluntarily and without charge. If you want to express the action of giving something as a gift, use the verb schenken, which is more specific than the general verb for 'to give' (geben).
Which one should you use?
Geschenk is the standard term for a physical object given as a gift. In contrast, Gabe is a literary term used to describe an innate talent or a divine gift. If the gift is a charitable donation to an organization, use Spende instead of Geschenk.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Präsent is a formal or sophisticated way to refer to a gift, often used in professional or high-society contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Gschänk is an informal form used in several southern German dialects, particularly in Bavaria and parts of Austria.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Geschenk is a neuter noun. Its plural form is Geschenke.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡəˈʃɛŋk/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse the German word Gift with the English word 'gift'. In German, Gift actually means 'poison'.
Did you know?
- The German word Gift is a 'false friend' that means 'poison'. Accidentally calling a Geschenk a Gift could lead to a very alarming misunderstanding.
- The formal term Präsent entered the German language via Old French. It is a loanword used to add a touch of sophistication to the act of giving.
Examples in context
- Es war ein Geschenk.It was a gift.This sentence is useful for identifying a gift using Geschenk.Tatoeba #1907195 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1897724 by CK
- Es ist kein Geschenk.It's not a gift.This sentence is useful for negating the existence of a gift using Geschenk.Tatoeba #7478590 by Yorwba, translation #2649000 by CK
- Mach das Geschenk auf!Open the gift.This sentence is useful for giving an instruction to open a gift using Geschenk.Tatoeba #4168568 by Esperantostern, translation #10031975 by ddnktr
- Vielen Dank für das Geschenk.Thank you for the gift.
- Danke für das Präsent!Thank you for the gift!
- 343 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia gives Julian a birthday present.
- JuliaAlles Gute! Hier ist ein Geschenk für dich.Happy birthday! Here is a gift for you.
- JulianOh, vielen Dank, Julia!Oh, thank you very much, Julia!
- JuliaIch hoffe, das Geschenk gefällt dir.I hope you like the gift.
- JulianIch bin schon sehr gespannt!I am very curious!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gift” translations and entries Geschenk, Präsent, Spende, Gabe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Gabe, Geschenk, Präsent, Spende, präsent, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
