Rap
/ʁæp/
In German, Rap is the term used to refer to rap.
The term refers to the musical genre or the act of performing spoken lyrics. In common conversation, German speakers often use the English loanword Rap to discuss the genre. You may encounter specific terminology related to the culture, such as Texte for lyrics, Beats for beats, Flow for flow and Battles to refer specifically to rap battles.
Meaning: to speak lyrics in the style of rap music (verb)
Which one should you use?
While Rap is commonly used informally, you can also use the compound noun Rapmusik to refer to rap music as a general genre.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you use Rap as a noun to refer to the genre or a specific piece of music, it is a masculine noun, such as in the phrase den Rap.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁæp/
Did you know?
- Many German rappers use Kiezdeutsch, a multiethnolect spoken in urban neighborhoods, which alters the grammar and pronunciation of Rap lyrics compared to standard German.
- Because Rap is a loanword, it follows the same grammatical rules as other English imports, meaning you can even use it to form German diminutives like Räppchen to describe something cute or small.
- The German rap scene experienced a massive surge in popularity through the 'Aggro Berlin' era, which shifted the genre from a niche American imitation to a distinct domestic cultural force.
Examples in context
- Dieser Rap-Text ist frauenfeindlich.These rap lyrics are degrading to women.This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe the content of Rap lyrics.Tatoeba #8330738 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #6946906 by Hybrid
- Frauen werden in vielen Liedern des Genres „Rap“ herabgewürdigt.Many rap songs are degrading to women.This sentence shows how the term Rap is used to describe the genre in a broader context.Tatoeba #7004557 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2909234 by Hybrid
- Mary und Juniors Vater sind keine großen Fans von Fetty Waps Musik, behaupten sogar, dass er „Rap für immer runiniert“, wohingegen Junior seine Musik liebt.Mary and Junior's father are not big fans of Fetty Wap's music, even claiming that he's "ruined rap forever", meanwhile, Junior absolutely loves his music.This sentence demonstrates how Rap is used when discussing a musician's impact on the genre.Tatoeba #4948049 by l4t3, translation #4943529 by Ishao
- Ich höre gerne deutschen Rap.I enjoy listening to German rap.
- Hast du schon den neuen Rap-Song gehört?Have you already heard the new rap song?
- In Deutschland hat sich Rap als populäres Genre etabliert.Rap has established itself as a popular genre in Germany.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Julia are talking about their hobbies.
- FelixKannst du eigentlich Rap?Can you actually rap?
- JuliaJa, ich Rap schon seit zwei Jahren.Yes, I have been rapping for two years.
- FelixDas ist ja cool, Julia!That's so cool, Julia!
- JuliaDanke, Felix! Ich schreibe meine eigenen Texte.Thanks, Felix! I write my own lyrics.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Rap, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
