Mythos
/ˈmyːtɔs/masculine
The German word for myth is Mythos.
Mythos refers to a commonly-held but false belief. It is also used to describe a collection of traditional stories or a grand, idealized narrative.
Meaning: commonly-held but false belief (noun)
Which one should you use?
While Mythos can mean a commonly-held false belief, it is also used to refer to a collection of traditional stories or a grand, idealized narrative. For specific types of storytelling, you might use other terms: Sage is a formal option for a narrative that has historical elements and potentially supernatural elements, while Epos describes long narrative poems that often contain legendary or mythical elements.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Mythos is Mythen.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmyːtɔs/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly assume the German word for a myth is Myth, but Mythos is the standard term for both a false belief and a mythological narrative.
Did you know?
- The term Mythos is frequently paired with the verb entzaubern, meaning 'to disenchant', when a person seeks to debunk a commonly-held false belief.
- While English speakers use 'myth' to mean a lie, Germans use Mythos to describe the awe-inspiring, almost sacred aura surrounding a famous person or a legendary brand.
- While Mythos can describe a falsehood, the word Irrglaube is often used instead when the focus is specifically on a mistaken religious or spiritual belief.
Examples in context
- Das ist ein Mythos.That's a myth.This sentence is useful for stating that something is a Mythos.Tatoeba #1907073 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1897778 by CK
- Der Erfolg von Paul war ein Mythos.Paul's success was a myth.This sentence shows how to describe a past success as a Mythos.Tatoeba #1872841 by Tamy, translation #33686 by AlanF_US
- Dieser Mythos liefert Einblicke in die antike Kultur.The myth offers insights into the ancient civilization.This sentence demonstrates how a Mythos can provide insights into ancient culture.Tatoeba #2510401 by Tamy, translation #46053 by mamat
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Sarah are discussing a common urban legend.
- FelixIst das wirklich wahr?Is that actually true?
- SarahNein, das ist nur ein Mythos.No, that is just a myth.
- FelixIch dachte, es wäre eine Tatsache.I thought it was a fact.
- SarahViele Leute glauben diesen Mythos leider.Many people unfortunately believe this myth.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “myth” translations and entries Mythos, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
