Schmuck
/ʃmʊkʰ/
The German word for jewelry is Schmuck.
Which one should you use?
Schmuckstücke is a formal term for jewelry used when referring to individual pieces or valuable items.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Luxembourg, the word Bijouterie is used to refer to jewelry stores or costume jewelry.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word Schmuck is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃmʊkʰ/
Did you know?
- In some German dialects, schmuck is used as an adjective meaning 'neat' or 'tidy' rather than referring to jewelry.
- The word Schmuck is etymologically rooted in the idea of being 'flexible' or 'supple'. It originally described something that could bend or move easily, rather than a static decoration.
- The verb related to this noun, schmücken, can be used for much more than just jewelry. One can den Tisch schmücken, which means to 'decorate the table' with flowers or cloths.
Examples in context
- Sie trägt viel Schmuck.She wears a lot of jewelry.This sentence shows how to use Schmuck when describing someone wearing a lot of jewelry.Tatoeba #8039912 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #9983634 by ddnktr
- Mary trug keinen Schmuck.Mary didn't wear any jewelry.This sentence demonstrates the use of Schmuck in a negative context.Tatoeba #4764048 by Xandaros, translation #1096137 by CK
- Wie oft trägst du Schmuck?How often do you wear jewelry?This sentence is useful for asking how frequently someone wears Schmuck.Tatoeba #10632278 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10632168 by CK
- Entschuldigen Sie, wo finde ich den Schmuckladen?Excuse me, where can I find the jewelry store?
- Diese Schmuckstücke sind äußerst wertvoll.These jewelry pieces are extremely valuable.
- Ich liebe deinen neuen Schmuck!I love your new jewelry!
- Ich habe gestern wunderschöne Juwelen gesehen.I saw some beautiful jewelry yesterday.
- In der Altstadt gibt es viele Goldschmiede.There are many jewelry stores in the old town.
- Ich habe ein wunderschönes Armband in der Bijouterie gekauft.I bought a beautiful bracelet at the jewelry store.
- 36 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Julian are at a jewelry store.
- LauraGefällt dir dieser Schmuck?Do you like this jewelry?
- JulianJa, er ist wunderschön.Yes, it is beautiful.
- LauraMöchtest du den Schmuck kaufen?Would you like to buy the jewelry?
- JulianVielleicht später, Laura.Maybe later, Laura.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Schmuck, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Schmuck, schmuck, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
