Tombola
/ˈtɔmbola/feminine
The German word for raffle is Tombola or Verlosung.
Meaning: drawing (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tombola | /ˈtɔmbola/ | feminine |
| Verlosung | /ˌfɛɐ̯ˈloːzʊŋ/ | feminine |
In German, you use these terms to describe a drawing or a prize draw. To express the action of holding a raffle or drawing a winner, you use the verb verlosen. A common way to say that a prize will be raffled among the participants is to use the phrase unter den Teilnehmern verlosen.
Which one should you use?
Verlosung refers more generally to the process of drawing a winner, such as a random giveaway or a simple prize draw.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Tombola is Tombolas, while the plural form of Verlosung is Verlosungen.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtɔmbola/
Did you know?
- The root word Los in Verlosung means both 'lot' and 'fate'. This links a modern raffle to the ancient belief that drawing a ticket was a way to reveal a divine will.
- The word Tombola is borrowed from Italian, where it originally referred to a variation of bingo rather than a general raffle.
- While Verlosung is the standard term for a prize draw, the English word 'lottery' translates to Lotterie, which in German usually implies a high-stakes state-run gambling system rather than a friendly raffle.
Examples in context
- Die Verlosung der Preise findet um 18 Uhr statt.The raffle for the prizes will take place at 6 p.m.
- Die Tombola wurde organisiert, um Geld für wohltätige Zwecke zu sammeln.The raffle was organized to raise money for charitable purposes.
- Komm vorbei! Wir haben einen Losverkauf – großartige Preise warten auf dich.Come over! We have a raffle – great prizes are waiting for you.
- Nimm an unserem Gewinnspiel teil und gewinne tolle Preise!Take part in our raffle and win amazing prizes!
- Bei der großen Lotterie hast du die Chance, einen Luxusurlaub zu gewinnen.In the big raffle, you have the chance to win a luxury vacation.
- Die Tombola findet am Samstag statt.The raffle takes place on Saturday.
- Wir müssen Lose für die Tombola kaufen.We have to buy tickets for the raffle.
Example conversation
Sarah and Julian are at a local school fair.
- SarahSchau mal, dort ist die Tombola!Look, over there is the raffle!
- JulianKaufen wir uns ein paar Lose?Shall we buy a few tickets?
- SarahJa, ich möchte gerne etwas gewinnen.Yes, I would really like to win something.
- JulianHoffentlich gewinnen wir bei der Tombola.Hopefully we win at the raffle.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “raffle” translations and entries Tombola, Verlosung, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Tombola, Verlosung, CC BY-SA 4.0.
