Mathe
/ˈmatə/feminine
In German, the English phrase math is translated as Mathe.
Mathe is a short form of the noun mathematics. It is primarily used in casual conversation, especially among students and in school settings.
Meaning: short form of mathematics (noun)
Which one should you use?
While Mathe is the common colloquial shortening, Mathematik is the full, formal noun used in academic or official contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Mathe is a colloquial term. For formal or academic contexts, use Mathematik.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a feminine noun, Mathe requires feminine articles and adjective endings, such as die Mathe or eine gute Mathe-Lehrerin.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmatə/
Did you know?
- German students often use the phrase Mathe-Trauma to describe the lingering stress or anxiety caused by a particularly difficult lesson or exam.
- The abbreviation Mathe can be used to form 'Mathe-Angst', a specific compound noun meaning 'math anxiety', a common term used by students and psychologists.
- The term Mathe is used as a prefix in many compound nouns, such as Mathebuch for a math book, following the German rule of joining nouns.
Examples in context
- Du bist in Mathe.You're in math class.This sentence shows how to use Mathe when referring to a math class.Tatoeba #13272391 by Vortarulo, translation #3180234 by Theocracy
- Tom mag kein Mathe.Tom doesn't like math.This sentence demonstrates using Mathe to express a preference.Tatoeba #5341204 by Sudajaengi, translation #1621184 by Spamster
- Bist du gut in Mathe?Are you good at math?This sentence illustrates asking about proficiency in Mathe.Tatoeba #5200220 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2820101 by CK
- In der Mathematik gibt es verschiedene Bereiche, wie Algebra, Geometrie und Statistik.In math, there are various fields such as algebra, geometry, and statistics.
- In der Grundschule lernen die Kinder das Rechnen.In elementary school, children learn math.
- Hast du heute Mathe-Hausaufgaben?Do you have math homework today?
- 187 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Felix are talking about their school schedule.
- SarahHast du heute noch Mathe?Do you still have math today?
- FelixJa, wir haben in einer Stunde Mathe.Yes, we have math in one hour.
- SarahOh nein, ich hasse Mathe!Oh no, I hate math!
- FelixIch kann dir gerne helfen, Sarah.I can help you, Sarah.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “math” translations and entries Mathe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
