Güte
/ˈɡyːtə/
The German word for goodness is Güte.
Güte refers to the state or characteristic of being good. In certain idiomatic contexts, such as the interjections Meine Güte or Du meine Güte, the word functions as an exclamation to express surprise, shock, annoyance or astonishment rather than referring to a person's moral character.
Meaning: state or characteristic of being good (noun)
Which one should you use?
While Güte can mean the abstract quality of being good (virtue), in the context of interjections like Meine Güte, it functions as an exclamation of surprise rather than a discussion of moral character.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɡyːtə/
When do people say it?
German speakers use the interjections Meine Güte and Du meine Güte to express various degrees of surprise, shock or annoyance.
Did you know?
- German uses the word Güte in the phrase Gütefrist, which describes a 'grace period' given to a debtor before penalties are applied.
- In technical or commercial contexts, Güte can refer to the 'grade' or 'quality' of a material, such as the purity of a metal or the quality of a diamond.
- The interjection Meine Güte is often used as a polite substitute for stronger swear words, similar to how English speakers use 'my goodness' to avoid saying 'my God'.
Examples in context
- Güte tut mehr als Gewalt.Goodness does more than violence.This sentence shows the use of Güte regarding the concept of goodness.Tatoeba #1206406 by Esperantostern, translation #6177908 by carlosalberto
- Du meine Güte! Das ist ja phantastisch!Goodness me, that's fantastic!This sentence uses Güte within a colloquial expression of astonishment.Tatoeba #10516014 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #12024075 by sundown
- Meine Güte! Was geht hier denn vor sich?My goodness, what's going on here?This sentence uses Güte within a colloquial expression of surprise or shock.Tatoeba #7206009 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #6821723 by Hybrid
- Die Güte des Menschen ist bewundernswert.The goodness of people is admirable.
- Seine Gutmütigkeit hat mich immer beeindruckt.His goodness has always impressed me.
- Deine Nettigkeit ist wirklich erfrischend.Your goodness is truly refreshing.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Felix are discussing an old charity foundation.
- JuliaSeine Güte ist wirklich bewundernswert.His goodness is truly admirable.
- FelixJa, er hilft immer allen Menschen.Yes, he always helps all people.
- JuliaEs ist selten, so jemanden zu finden.It is rare to find someone like that.
- FelixDas stimmt, Julia.That is true, Julia.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Güte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
