Verlierer
/fɛɐ̯ˈliːʁɐ/masculine
The German word for loser is Verlierer. Wiktionary also lists Verliererin.
Meaning: person who fails to win (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Verlierer | /fɛɐ̯ˈliːʁɐ/ | masculine |
| Verliererin | feminine |
The term can be used literally to describe someone who loses a game, or insultingly to describe someone perceived as a failure in life. Depending on the context, other German words may be more appropriate, such as Leistungsschwacher for an underachiever or erfolgloser Mensch for an unsuccessful individual.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is formed from the verb verlieren (to lose) and the suffix -er (one who does something).
Which one should you use?
The masculine form is Verlierer, while the feminine form is Verliererin.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form Verliererin is created by adding the suffix -in to the masculine form.
How do you pronounce it?
/fɛɐ̯ˈliːʁɐ/
Did you know?
- In a gambling context, a Verlierer might be referred to as a Pechvogel, which literally translates to 'bad luck bird'.
- German has a specific cultural concept called Versager, which is a much harsher term than Verlierer and implies a total personal failure rather than just losing a game.
- If you want to call someone a 'loser' in a very colloquial, slangy way, Germans often use the English loanword 'Loser' itself, but with a German accent.
Examples in context
- Wer ist der Verlierer?Who's the loser?This is useful for asking who the loser is.Tatoeba #2216300 by Esperantostern, translation #3738409 by CK
- Tom ist ein Verlierer.Tom is a loser.This is useful for stating that Tom is a loser.Tatoeba #2383248 by BraveSentry, translation #2272825 by CK
- Du bist ein Verlierer.You are a loser.This is useful for telling someone they are a loser.Tatoeba #12203963 by nexx, translation #10062504 by espamatics
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Julian are discussing a board game they just finished playing.
- JuliaJulian, du bist heute der Verlierer.Julian, you are the loser today.
- JulianDas stimmt, ich war ein schlechter Verlierer.That is true, I was a bad loser.
- JuliaEs ist egal, wir spielen nochmal.It doesn't matter, we are playing again.
- JulianAbgemacht, diesmal gewinne ich bestimmt.Deal, this time I will definitely win.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “loser” translations and entries Verlierer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
