Herz
/hɛrts/neuter
The German word for heart is Herz. Wiktionary also lists Härz (als).
Meaning: an organ (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Herz | /hɛrts/ | neuter |
| Härz (als) | Alemannic German, neuter |
The word refers to the biological organ.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form Härz (als) is used in Alemannic German dialects.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Herz is Herzen. In the dative singular, the word often takes the suffix -en to become dem Herzen, which is especially common in fixed idiomatic expressions.
How do you pronounce it?
/hɛrts/
Did you know?
- While 'Herz' is the biological organ, Germans often use the verb 'herzen' to mean 'to hug or cuddle someone affectionately'.
- In Germany, the Herz is a recurring motif in traditional gingerbread cookies called Lebkuchenherzen. These are often decorated with icing and sold at folk festivals like Oktoberfest.
- The German word Herz shares its ancient ancestry with the Greek word 'kardia', which is where the English medical term 'cardiac' comes from.
Examples in context
- Ich habe ein Herz.I have a heart.This sentence shows the use of Herz to state possession.Tatoeba #8774071 by manese, translation #2638604 by araneo
- Mir bebt das Herz.My heart is trembling.This sentence demonstrates Herz in a context of physical sensation.Tatoeba #12204033 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #25529 by AlanF_US
- Höre auf dein Herz!Listen to your heart.This sentence uses Herz when giving advice to follow one's intuition.Tatoeba #2869075 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2647124 by CK
- Du hast ein gutes GemütYou have a good heart
- Gute Nacht, mein kleines HerzchenGood night, my little heart
- Du hast ein großes HerzYou have a big heart
- 602 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A doctor is explaining a medical result to a patient.
- LauraDas Herz sieht auf dem Röntgenbild gut aus.The heart looks good on the X-ray.
- LukasDas ist eine große Erleichterung für mich.That is a great relief for me.
- LauraIhr Herz schlägt auch sehr regelmäßig.Your heart is also beating very regularly.
- LukasVielen Dank für die guten Nachrichten, Frau Doktor.Thank you very much for the good news, doctor.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “heart” translations and entries Herz, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
