Riese
/ˈʁiːzə/masculine
The English word 'hulk' can be translated into German as Riese or Hüne.
Meaning: big (and possibly clumsy) person (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Riese | /ˈʁiːzə/ | masculine |
| Hüne | /ˈhyːnə/ |
Both terms refer to a big, and possibly clumsy, person.
Which one should you use?
While both words describe a large person, Riese is a more neutral term for a giant or a very tall person. In contrast, Hüne often implies a more imposing, muscular or physically impressive build and carries a slightly more poetic or literary tone when describing someone's stature.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Riese is Riesen. The plural form of Hüne is Hünen.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʁiːzə/
Did you know?
- The word Hüne originates from the name of the Huns, the nomadic people led by Attila. Over time, the name of this fierce ethnic group became a general term for a physically imposing person.
- While Riese is the standard word for 'giant', German uses the phrase Riesenschaden to describe a 'huge loss' or 'massive damage'.
- German speakers sometimes use Riese ironically to describe something small, such as calling a tiny puppy a kleiner Riese or 'little giant'.
Examples in context
- Drago, ein eiskalter Hüne mit über 2,00 m Körperlänge, ist eine mit stahlharten Muskeln bepackte Kampfmaschine.Drago, an ice-cold hulk of a man standing more than two metres tall, is a fighting machine packed with muscles of steel.This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe a man with a massive build using Hüne.
- In dem Film "The Avengers" ist der Hulk sehr beeindruckend.In the film "The Avengers" the Hulk is very impressive.
- Hast du den neuen Hulk-Film schon gesehen? Er ist fantastisch!Have you seen the new Hulk film yet? It is fantastic!
- Der Mann dort ist ein echter Riese.That man over there is a real giant.
- Ein Riese hat das Regal umgestoßen.A giant knocked over the shelf.
Example conversation
Two friends are watching a basketball game in a park.
- FelixSchau mal, der neue Spieler ist ein Riese!Look, the new player is a giant!
- LauraJa, er ist wirklich sehr groß.Yes, he is really very tall.
- FelixHoffentlich ist er nicht zu ungeschickt.I hope he is not too clumsy.
- LauraDas werden wir bald sehen.We will see that soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hulk” translations and entries Riese, Hüne, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Hüne, Riese, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
