(handheld) Feuerzeug
neuter
The English phrase 'lighter' is translated into German as (handheld) Feuerzeug. Wiktionary also lists Zigarettenanzünder.
Meaning: fire-making device (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | Note |
|---|---|
| (handheld) Feuerzeug | neuter |
| Zigarettenanzünder | masculine |
The term refers to a device used for making fire.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Feuerzeug is a compound of Feuer (fire) and Zeug (thing/stuff/tool).
Which one should you use?
Use Feuerzeug for a portable, handheld lighter such as a BIC or Zippo. Use Zigarettenanzünder specifically for a built-in cigarette lighter found in vehicles.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun Feuerzeug is neuter and is used with the definite article das. The noun Zigarettenanzünder is masculine and is used with the definite article der.
Did you know?
- If you ask for a Feuerzeug in a German pub, you might be offered a Feuer instead. In colloquial speech, people often just ask for 'fire' rather than the device itself.
- In older German literature, a Feuerzeug did not refer to a petrol lighter, but to a 'fire-steel' kit containing flint and steel. The word evolved to cover modern technology while keeping its ancient name.
- The suffix -zeug is commonly used in German to turn a noun into a tool, such as in Spielzeug for 'toy'.
Examples in context
- Dieses Auto hat einen Zigarettenanzünder.This car has a cigarette lighter.This sentence is useful for describing a car that has a Zigarettenanzünder.Tatoeba #3924186 by brauchinet, translation #3890626 by Hybrid
- Kannst du mir bitte das Feuerzeug leihen?Can you please lend me the lighter?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lighter” translations and entries Zigarettenanzünder, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
