Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mund | /mʊnt/ | masculine |
| Babbn | ||
| Letschn | ||
| May | ||
| Goschn | ||
| Maul | /maʊ̯l/ | neuter |
| Muul | Alemannic German, neuter | |
| Schnure | Alemannic German | |
| Gosche | Alemannic German |
The primary way to refer to the opening of a creature through which food is ingested is using Mund. It is also used in various idiomatic expressions, such as the idiom den Mund halten, which means to keep one's mouth shut or to remain quiet.
Which one should you use?
While Mund is the standard term for a human mouth, Maul refers specifically to the mouth or snout of an animal. Using Maul to refer to a human is considered rude or derogatory. Similarly, Goschn is a slang term used to refer to a person's mouth in a highly colloquial, often rude way, similar to calling it a "trap" or "maw" in English.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Alemannic-speaking regions, you may encounter the dialectal forms Muul, Schnure and Gosche. Muul is a dialectal variation of Maul.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Mund is Munde. In the dative case, the word remains Mund (for example, in dem Mund), though in older or poetic German, it may appear as Munde.
How do you pronounce it?
/mʊnt/
Did you know?
- In certain dialects, the word Schnure is used for 'mouth', which is also the standard German word for a 'string' or a 'leash'.
- The English word 'muzzle' is a distant relative of the German Maul through their shared Proto-Indo-European origins.
- The rude slang term Goschn is a shortened version of the word Gosche, used primarily to tell someone to stop talking.
Examples in context
- Mach den Mund auf.Open your mouth!This sentence is useful for practicing the command to open one's mouth using Mund.Tatoeba #533756 by al_ex_an_der, translation #1664 by CE
- Ich hielt den Mund.I kept my mouth shut.This sentence shows how to use the idiom for keeping one's mouth shut with Mund.Tatoeba #2309316 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2309303 by Hybrid
- Toms Mund war voll.Tom's mouth was full.This sentence demonstrates describing someone's mouth being full using Mund.Tatoeba #8661694 by Melang, translation #5754342 by CM
- Bitte bedecken Sie Mund und Nase mit einer Maske.Please cover your mouth and nose with a mask.
- Ich habe einen bitteren Geschmack im Mund.I have a bitter taste in my mouth.
- Halt die Schnauze!Shut your mouth!
- 274 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A woman is noticing a small mark on her partner's mouth.
- JulianDu hast etwas am Mund.You have something on your mouth.
- LauraIst das etwas Schlimmes?Is it something bad?
- JulianNein, nur ein bisschen Ketchup.No, just a little bit of ketchup.
- LauraOh, danke für den Hinweis!Oh, thanks for the hint!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mouth” translations and entries Mund, Maul, Gosche, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Maul, Mund, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
