weise
/ˈvaɪ̯zə/
In German, the English word 'sage' can be translated as weise when used as an adjective meaning wise. Wiktionary also lists klug.
Meaning: wise (adj)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| weise | /ˈvaɪ̯zə/ |
| klug | /kluːk/ /kluːx/ |
If you are actually referring to the herb 'sage' (Salvia officinalis), the German word is Salbei.
Which one should you use?
While weise implies deep, philosophical or spiritual wisdom, klug is used for practical intelligence or being clever/smart.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective weise can be transformed into a noun to refer to a person. As a masculine noun, it becomes der Weise (a wise man or sage) and as a feminine noun, it becomes die Weise (a wise woman or female sage).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈvaɪ̯zə/
Did you know?
- While klug means 'smart', the German phrase klugscheißen literally translates to 'smart-shitting' and is used to describe someone who is a know-it-all.
- While weise describes a person with profound wisdom, the word die Weise (feminely) is a homonym that can also mean 'the melody' or 'the way' in different contexts.
- To call someone klug can sometimes be perceived as a backhanded compliment, implying they are 'cunning' or 'calculating' rather than truly virtuous.
Examples in context
- Der Daoismus gründet sich auf die Lehren des Laozi, eines im Jahr 604 v. u. Z. in der heutigen Provinz Henan geborenen Weisen.Taoism was founded on the teachings of Laozi, a sage born in 604 B.C. in present-day Henan Province.This sentence uses the noun form of weise to describe a philosopher.Tatoeba #10227537 by Yorwba, translation #897988 by eastasiastudent
- Der Weise ist frei von jedem Vorurteil.The sage is free from all prejudice.This sentence uses the noun form of weise to describe a wise person.Tatoeba #12962256 by Tom9358, translation #12962258 by Tom9358
- Der Tor läuft den Genüssen des Lebens nach und sieht sich betrogen: der Weise vermeidet die Übel.The fool runs after the pleasures of life and sees himself cheated, the sage avoids evils.This sentence uses the noun form of weise to contrast a sage with a fool.Tatoeba #5624313 by Adelpa, translation #5624297 by Adelpa
- Er ist ein angesehener WeiserHe is a respected sage
Example conversation
Felix and Julia are discussing a difficult decision.
- FelixWas würdest du an meiner Stelle tun?What would you do in my position?
- JuliaFrag deinen Großvater, er ist sehr weise.Ask your grandfather, he is very wise.
- FelixDas stimmt, er gibt immer gute Tipps.That's true, he always gives good tips.
- JuliaEin weise getroffener Entschluss spart viel Zeit.A wisely made decision saves a lot of time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sage” translations and entries weise, klug, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
