Nacht
/naxt/feminine
The English word "night" is Nacht in German. If unsure, use Nacht. Wiktionary also lists Nocht.
Meaning: period between sunset and sunrise (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Nacht | /naxt/ | feminine |
| Nocht |
Nacht refers to the period between sunset and sunrise.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While Nacht is the standard noun, you may hear the shortened Nacht! used as an informal, colloquial way to say "good night".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of Nacht is Nächte.
How do you pronounce it?
/naxt/
Did you know?
- In German folklore, Nachtmahr refers to a nightmare, derived from a 'Mahr' or goblin that was believed to sit on a sleeper's chest.
- The phrase Nachtwache refers to a night watch, a tradition of city guards who patrolled German towns to protect citizens from fire and crime.
- The root of Nacht is related to the Latin word 'nox', which is why English words like 'nocturnal' feel so similar to the German term.
Examples in context
- Wie war eure Nacht?How was your night?This sentence is useful for asking how someone's night was using Nacht.Tatoeba #1342001 by al_ex_an_der, translation #953357 by CK
- Die Nacht war kühl.The night was cool.This sentence is useful for describing the night as cool using Nacht.Tatoeba #2290230 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2268421 by _undertoad
- Was für eine Nacht!What a night!This sentence is useful for expressing excitement about a night using Nacht.Tatoeba #7451658 by Yorwba, translation #2254532 by CK
- 1742 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Julian are talking in the kitchen early in the morning.
- HannahHast du eine gute Nacht gehabt?Did you have a good night?
- JulianJa, die Nacht war sehr ruhig.Yes, the night was very quiet.
- HannahIch habe die ganze Nacht geschlafen.I slept all night.
- JulianDas klingt nach einer erholsamen Nacht.That sounds like a restful night.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “night” translations and entries Nacht, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
