Wäsche
/ˈvɛʃə/feminine
The English phrase laundry is translated into German as Wäsche. If unsure, use Wäsche. Wiktionary also lists Waschgut.
Meaning: that which needs to be laundered (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Wäsche | /ˈvɛʃə/ | feminine |
| Waschgut | neuter |
Wäsche is used to refer to things that need to be laundered. It is typically used as a collective singular noun when referring to a load or a collection of laundry. In colloquial speech, you might hear the term Der Schmutzwäscheberg to describe a mountain of dirty laundry.
Which one should you use?
Wäsche is the common, everyday term for laundry. In contrast, Waschgut is a more technical or administrative term often used in industrial or institutional contexts, such as in hotels or hospitals.
How does it change in a sentence?
Wäsche is a feminine noun, while Waschgut is a neuter noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈvɛʃə/
Did you know?
- The German phrase die schmutzige Wäsche waschen literally means 'to wash the dirty laundry', but it is used idiomatically to describe airing out private scandals or secrets.
- Historically, the gathering of Wäsche at public wash-houses was a primary social hub for women in German villages, acting as a local news exchange.
- While Wäsche refers to the laundry itself, Germans often use the word Wäschetag to designate a specific day of the week dedicated entirely to washing and drying clothes.
Examples in context
- Wo ist die Wäsche?Where is the laundry?This sentence is useful for asking about the location of the Wäsche.Tatoeba #661817 by Zaghawa, translation #29717 by CK
- Hol die Wäsche rein.Bring in the laundry.This sentence is useful for giving a command to bring in the Wäsche.Tatoeba #9611407 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #8939293 by AlanF_US
- Ich mache die Wäsche.I'm doing my laundry.This sentence is useful for stating that you are doing the Wäsche.Tatoeba #8081115 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2547779 by CK
- 79 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Lukas are in the laundry room.
- HannahIst die Wäsche schon trocken?Is the laundry dry already?
- LukasNein, die Wäsche ist noch feucht.No, the laundry is still damp.
- HannahLukas, kannst du sie bitte aufhängen?Lukas, can you please hang it up?
- LukasJa, das mache ich sofort.Yes, I will do that immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “laundry” translations and entries Wäsche, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
