Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Geheimnis | /ɡəˈhaɪmnɪs/ | neuter |
| Rätsel | /ˈʁɛːtsəl/ | neuter |
In German, the translation depends on the type of mystery you are describing. Geheimnis is the standard translation for mystery and is used when referring to something that is intentionally kept from others. Rätsel primarily refers to a puzzle or riddle, but it can also describe a mysterious situation.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Geheimnis is derived from the adjective geheim, meaning 'secret'.
Which one should you use?
Use Geheimnis when referring to a secret that is intentionally kept from others, whereas Rätsel refers to a puzzle or something that is inherently difficult to understand. Use Rätsel when the mystery is a problem to be solved or an enigma, such as a person's behavior or a mathematical puzzle. The adjective rätselhaft is used to describe something that is mysterious or puzzling, such as 'ein rätselhafter Fall' (a mysterious case).
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Geheimnis is Geheimnisse. The word Rätsel is an indeclinable noun in its plural form. The singular and plural are identical.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡəˈhaɪmnɪs/
Did you know?
- The word Rätsel shares an ancient root with the English word 'read', through the concept of interpreting or counsel.
- While 'mystery' in English is often used for anything unknown, using Geheimnis to describe a natural phenomenon like a 'mysterious forest' might imply the forest is intentionally hiding something from you.
- The suffix '-nis' in Geheimnis is a common way in German to turn an adjective into a noun, similar to how '-ness' functions in English.
Examples in context
- Das ist das Rätsel.That's the mystery.This sentence is useful for identifying a specific mystery.Tatoeba #11971811 by Naina, translation #11966685 by Tintomara
- Tom ist ein Rätsel.Tom is a mystery.This sentence is useful for describing a person as a mystery.Tatoeba #12407598 by mayabe, translation #3737509 by CK
- Der Mord bleibt rätselhaft.The murder remains a mystery.This sentence uses the adjective form to describe a murder that remains a mystery.Tatoeba #586967 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #47762 by CK
- Das ist wirklich rätselhaft!That is truly mysterious!
- Sie hat etwas Geheimnisvolles an sich.She has something mysterious about her.
- Das Geheimnis der verlorenen Stadt fasziniert mich.The mystery of the lost city fascinates me.
- Er ist ein rätselhafter Mensch, über den man viel spekuliert.He is a mysterious person that people often speculate about.
- Die geheimnisvolle Atmosphäre der alten Villa ließ mich gruseln.The mysterious atmosphere of the old villa gave me shivers.
- Geheimnisvolle Dinge passieren manchmal, ohne dass wir sie verstehen.Mysterious things sometimes happen without us understanding them.
- In diesem Buch dreht sich alles um ein Mysterium, das gelöst werden muss.This book is all about a mystery that needs to be solved.
- Kannst du mir bei diesem Rätsel helfen? Es ist wirklich knifflig.Can you help me with this puzzle? It's really tricky.
- 49 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Lukas are discussing a hidden box they found.
- JuliaWas ist in diesem Kasten, Lukas?What is in this box, Lukas?
- LukasDas ist ein großes Geheimnis.That is a big mystery.
- JuliaBitte verrate mir das Geheimnis!Please tell me the mystery!
- LukasNein, ich behalte es für mich.No, I am keeping it to myself.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mystery” translations and entries Geheimnis, Rätsel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Geheimnis, Rätsel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
