mein Schatz
/maɪ̯n ʃat͡s/word by word
The English phrase "my sweet" can be translated into German as mein Schatz.
mein Schatz is a term of endearment used to address a romantic partner or a loved one. While Schatz is the most common term of endearment, it is used for both men and women regardless of their gender.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Schatz literally means treasure.
How does it change in a sentence?
In direct address, the possessive pronoun mein is often dropped, so you can simply say Schatz! to mean "Sweetheart!" The plural form of mein Schatz is meine Schätze, which translates to "my sweets" or "my treasures".
How do you pronounce it?
/maɪ̯n ʃats/
Did you know?
- In many Germanic languages like Swedish and Danish, the cognate of Schatz is actually the word for a 'tax', such as the Danish skat.
- While 'treasure' in English usually implies gold or jewels, the Proto-Germanic root of Schatz originally referred to 'cattle' as a form of wealth.
- Though it sounds like a romantic term, Schatz can be used ironically or condescendingly in an argument to mimic affection while actually expressing frustration.
Examples in context
- Ich vermisse dich, mein Süßer.I miss you, my sweet.
- Komm her, meine Süße.Come here, my sweet.
- Gute Nacht, Schatz.Good night, my sweet.
- Ich liebe dich, Schatz.I love you, my sweet.
- Vielen Dank, meine Liebe.Thank you very much, my sweet.
Example conversation
A couple is saying goodbye before work in the morning.
- JuliaBis später, mein Schatz.See you later, my sweet.
- MaximilianJa, hab einen schönen Tag.Yes, have a nice day.
- JuliaDanke, du bist so lieb.Thanks, you are so kind.
- MaximilianIch vermisse dich jetzt schon.I miss you already.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (mein, Schatz) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Schatz, mein, CC BY-SA 4.0.
