Lego
Lego is the German term for toy brick. If unsure, use Lego. Wiktionary also lists Legostein and Klemmbaustein.
Meaning: toy brick (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | Note |
|---|---|
| Lego | |
| Legostein | masculine |
| Klemmbaustein | masculine |
The term refers to the brand or the toy system. You can use LEGO-Bausteine to mean LEGO building blocks or LEGO-Spielzeug for LEGO toy. When talking about the toy in general, it is often treated as an uncountable substance, such as in the phrase mit Lego spielen (to play with Lego).
Which one should you use?
While Lego refers to the brand or the toy system as a whole, der Legostein refers specifically to an individual brick.
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as a mass noun to refer to the toy system in general, it is often used with the neuter article das Lego.
Did you know?
- The word Lego is a portmanteau of the Danish words leg godt, which means 'play well'. While the brand is Danish, it became a cornerstone of childhood in Germany, influencing how the language describes modular toys.
- In Germany, the generic term Klemmbaustein is used to describe any interlocking building block, regardless of the brand. Using this word allows people to talk about the toy without mentioning the specific 'LEGO' trademark.
- While many Germans use the word as a mass noun, strict brand guidelines suggest you should always refer to the objects as LEGO-Bausteine to avoid trademark issues.
Examples in context
- Es gibt keine englischen Sätze bei Tatoeba, in denen das Wort "Lego" vorkommt.There are no English sentences on Tatoeba that contain the word "Lego".This sentence demonstrates the use of Lego.Tatoeba #971068 by Esperantostern, translation #946918 by Scott
- Meine kleine Schwester spielt mit Lego.My little sister plays with Lego.This sentence shows how to use Lego when describing playing with the toy.Tatoeba #13018412 by Tom9358, translation #13018413 by Tom9358
- Es tut sehr weh, wenn man auf Lego tritt.It really hurts when you tread on Lego…This sentence illustrates the use of Lego in a common context.Tatoeba #6019300 by oyd11, translation #6019284 by oyd11
- Schau mal, wie groß das LEGO-Modell ist! / Ja, das ist ein beeindruckendes LEGO-Bausteine-Projekt.Look at how big the LEGO model is! / Yes, it's an impressive LEGO building blocks project.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Sarah are tidying up a playroom.
- MaximilianHast du das Lego aufgeräumt?Did you tidy up the Lego?
- SarahJa, ich habe alles in die Kiste getan.Yes, I put everything in the box.
- MaximilianGut, dann können wir jetzt spielen.Good, then we can play now.
- SarahKomm, lass uns ein Haus bauen.Come on, let's build a house.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lego” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
