How to Say "Goldfish" in German

Goldfisch

[ˈɡɔltfɪʃ]masculine

The English word goldfish is translated into German as Goldfisch.

The term refers to the fish.

Meaning: fish (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

Goldfisch is a compound of Gold (gold) and Fisch (fish).

In Switzerland and southern Germany, you may encounter the informal diminutive form Goldfischli.

The plural of Goldfisch is Goldfische.

In German, the word Fisch can be used as a verb, fischen, which means to fish. However, if someone is fischen in trüben Wässern, they are metaphorically 'fishing in murky waters' to take advantage of a confusing situation.
If you are in a German pet shop, you might see the word Zierfisch used to describe ornamental fish like the goldfish.
The diminutive Goldfischli uses the -li suffix, which is a hallmark of Swiss German. While standard German uses -chen, the Swiss suffix often implies a sense of affection or coziness that goes beyond just size.

Ich füttere den Goldfisch.
I'm feeding the goldfish.
Tatoeba #1694847 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #18548 by CK
Mein Goldfisch ist gestorben.
My goldfish died.
Tatoeba #6008862 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2806269 by Hybrid
Die Goldfische sind alle tot.
The goldfish are all dead.
Tatoeba #8876959 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10624255 by CK
Inge hat einen schönen Goldfisch in ihrem Gartenteich.
Inge has a beautiful goldfish in her garden pond.
Mein Sohn hat ein Aquarium voller Goldies.
My son has an aquarium full of goldies.
11 more sentences on Tatoeba

Sarah and Julian are looking at a pet shop window.

Sarah

Siehst du den kleinen Goldfisch dort?
Do you see the little goldfish there?
Julian

Ja, der Goldfisch ist sehr hübsch.
Yes, the goldfish is very pretty.
Sarah

Soll ich einen Goldfisch für uns kaufen?
Should I buy a goldfish for us?
Julian

Das wäre eine gute Idee, Sarah.
That would be a good idea, Sarah.

Sources

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