Pflanze
/ˈpflan(t)sə/
The German word for plant is Pflanze.
If you are referring to the action of placing something in soil to grow, you should use the verb pflanzen.
Meaning: to place in soil or other substrate in order that it may live and grow (verb)
Which one should you use?
While Pflanze is the noun for a plant, pflanzen is the verb meaning to plant. Additionally, for specific contexts, you might use Gewächs to refer to a small or herbaceous organism rather than a tree or Koloss when referring to a large piece of machinery.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun Pflanze is feminine and is used with the definite article die. The plural form is Pflanzen. For the verb pflanzen, the simple past tense is pflanzte and the past participle is gepflanzt.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpflan(t)sə/
Did you know?
- The English word 'plant' and the German Pflanze both stem from the Latin planta, which originally meant the 'sole' of the foot.
- If you want to describe a person as a 'plant' in the sense of a spy or an undercover agent, you would not use Pflanze, but rather the term Schläfer (sleeper) or Maulwurf (mole).
- A common German compound noun for a way to describe a 'plant nursery' is Pflanzschule, which literally translates to 'plant school'.
Examples in context
- Das ist eine Pflanze.It's a plant.This sentence uses Pflanze to identify an object.Tatoeba #2167523 by al_ex_an_der, translation #2167387 by CM
- Ist diese Pflanze eßbar?Is this plant edible?This sentence uses Pflanze to ask about edibility.Tatoeba #13601716 by Waldelfe, translation #13782018 by araneo
- Diese Pflanze ist gut essbar.This plant is good to eat.This sentence uses Pflanze to state that a plant is edible.Tatoeba #2805903 by Tamy, translation #58387 by CM
- In unserem Garten haben wir viele verschiedene Pflanzen.In our garden, we have many different plants.
- Ich werde morgen einen Apfelbaum pflanzen.I will plant an apple tree tomorrow.
- Komm mit, wir kaufen etwas Grünzeug für das Wohnzimmer.Come along, let's buy some plants for the living room.
- 84 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Laura are in the garden with a new shrub.
- LukasWann wollen wir die Pflanze einpflanzen?When do we want to plant the plant?
- LauraWir sollten die Pflanze heute noch pflanzen.We should plant the plant today.
- LukasSoll ich die Pflanze hier setzen?Should I place the plant here?
- LauraJa, pflanze sie dort in die Erde.Yes, plant it there in the soil.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Pflanze, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Pflanze, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
