Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| nett | /nɛt/ |
| schön | /ʃøːn/ |
| hübsch | /hʏpʃ/ |
In German, the word used for 'nice' depends heavily on the context of what you are describing. Use nett to describe a person's friendly, kind or pleasant personality and behavior. If you want to say 'very nice', you can use sehr schön and for 'really nice', you can use wirklich schön. Note that while the slang term Geil can mean 'cool' or 'awesome', it is a colloquial term that can be perceived as inappropriate or vulgar.
Which one should you use?
The different German forms are chosen based on what is being described. Use nett specifically to describe a person's friendly or kind personality. Use schön to describe things that are aesthetically pleasing or 'nice' to look at. To describe physical attractiveness, use schön or the more specific hübsch, which means 'pretty' or 'cute'. For an informal alternative to schön that emphasizes a higher level of enthusiasm, you can use toll.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The comparative form of nett is netter (nicer), and the superlative form is am nettesten (nicest).
How do you pronounce it?
/nɛt/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the slang term Geil to mean 'cool' or 'awesome' in formal settings, as it can be perceived as vulgar.
Did you know?
- While nett describes a person as friendly, calling someone nett in certain social contexts can sometimes be a 'backhanded compliment' implying they are unremarkable or bland.
- The word nett actually shares its ancestry with the English word 'neat', both originating from the Latin 'nitidus', meaning 'bright' or 'polished'.
- If you want to describe something as 'awesome' or 'cool' in a casual setting, you might hear the word geil, but be careful: this originally meant 'lustful' and can be quite vulgar.
Examples in context
- Sei nett zu ihr.Be nice to her.This sentence shows how to use nett when telling someone to be nice to a woman.Tatoeba #782566 by Hans_Adler, translation #308934 by CK
- Sei nett zu Ann.Be nice to Ann.This sentence shows how to use nett when telling someone to be nice to Ann.Tatoeba #823168 by Zaghawa, translation #66871 by CN
- Tom ist so nett.Tom is so nice.This sentence shows how to use nett to describe a person's temperament.Tatoeba #2325282 by pne, translation #2273498 by CK
- Die Blumen in deinem Garten sind wirklich schön.The flowers in your garden are really nice.
- Dein neuer Pullover sieht schick aus!Your new sweater looks nice!
- 1143 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Julia are discussing a new neighbor.
- JulianHast du mit der neuen Nachbarin gesprochen?Have you spoken with the new neighbor?
- JuliaJa, sie ist sehr nett.Yes, she is very nice.
- JulianDas freut mich zu hören.I'm glad to hear that.
- JuliaJulian, du solltest sie auch mal treffen.Julian, you should meet her too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nice” translations and entries nett, schön, hübsch, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hübsch, nett, schön, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
