Rennen
[ˈʁɛnən]neuter
In German, the English phrase 'race' (as in a contest) is translated as Rennen. Wiktionary also lists Wettrennen.
Meaning: contest (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rennen | [ˈʁɛnən] (narrow) | neuter |
| Wettrennen | /ˈvɛtˌʁɛnən/ | neuter |
If you are referring to a contest, use the nouns Rennen or Wettrennen. If you wish to use a verb meaning to move or drive at high speed, you can use rasen. Note that the lowercase verb rennen means 'to run', while the capitalized noun Rennen means 'the race'.
Which one should you use?
While Rennen can refer to any kind of running or racing, Wettrennen specifically emphasizes the competitive aspect of a race (a contest of speed).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun Rennen is neuter, so it takes the article das in the nominative and accusative cases.
What mistakes should you avoid?
The lowercase rennen is a verb meaning 'to run'. If you mean ethnicity, do not use these words. Instead, use Ethnie or use Hautfarbe when referring to skin color.
Did you know?
- To describe a 'rat race' in a professional context, Germans often avoid Rennen and instead use phrases like Hamsterrad, which means 'hamster wheel'.
- Because the verb rennen comes from an old word meaning 'to flow', it carries a hidden historical connection to the movement of liquids.
- The word Wettrennen literally contains the word for 'bet' or 'wager', which is Wette.
Examples in context
- Er gewann das Rennen.He won the race.This sentence shows how to express winning a race using Rennen.Tatoeba #8963502 by wolfgangth, translation #8479822 by CH
- Lesen ist kein Rennen.Reading isn't a race.This sentence uses Rennen in a metaphorical sense regarding reading.Tatoeba #11587576 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #8101993 by Hybrid
- Er nahm am Rennen teil.He took part in the race.This sentence demonstrates participating in a race using Rennen.Tatoeba #605595 by virgil, translation #290564 by CK
- Die menschliche Rasse ist vielfältig.The human race is diverse.
- Vo welcher Herkunft bisch du?What is your origin?
- 82 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Maximilian are talking about a sporting event.
- LauraWann beginnt das Rennen heute?When does the race start today?
- MaximilianEs beginnt in einer Stunde, Laura.It starts in one hour, Laura.
- LauraWer ist der Favorit für das Rennen?Who is the favorite for the race?
- MaximilianIch glaube, dass er gewinnt, Maximilian.I think that he will win, Maximilian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “race” translations and entries Rennen, Wettrennen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Rennen, Wettrennen, rennen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
