Wissenschaft
/ˈvɪsənʃaft/feminine
The German word for science is Wissenschaft. Wiktionary also lists Wissnschoft.
Meaning: collective discipline of learning acquired through the scientific method (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaft | /ˈvɪsənʃaft/ | feminine |
| Wissnschoft |
Wissenschaft refers to the collective discipline of learning acquired through the scientific method. You can use it to form specific branches of study, such as Sozialwissenschaften (social sciences), Computerwissenschaften (computer sciences), Geisteswissenschaften (humanities), Medizinwissenschaft (medical science) or Umweltwissenschaft (environmental science).
How does it change in a sentence?
Wissenschaft is a feminine noun. The plural form is die Wissenschaften (the sciences), and the genitive singular form, used to say 'of science', is der Wissenschaft.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈvɪsənʃaft/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Remember that all German nouns, including Wissenschaft, must always be capitalized.
Did you know?
- The suffix '-schaft' in Wissenschaft originally meant a 'certificate' or a formal document, rather than a state of being.
- The word Wissenschaft shares an ancient linguistic root with the English word 'wit', which used to mean 'knowledge' or 'intellect'.
- The suffix -schaft in Wissenschaft is a relative of the English suffix -ship, as seen in 'friendship' or 'partnership'.
Examples in context
- Das ist keine Wissenschaft.It's not rocket science.This sentence uses Wissenschaft to express the idiom 'It's not rocket science'.Tatoeba #630462 by samueldora, translation #479759 by sacredceltic
- Wissenschaft ist keine Religion.Science is not a religion.This sentence uses Wissenschaft to compare science and religion.Tatoeba #2655093 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2654677 by Hybrid
- Tom ist ein Mann der Wissenschaft.Tom is a man of science.This sentence uses Wissenschaft to describe someone as a man of science.Tatoeba #6734149 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #6732363 by Hybrid
- Die Wissenschaft hat enorme Fortschritte gemacht.Science has made tremendous progress.
- Die Naturwissenschaften sind eine faszinierende Disziplin.Natural sciences are a fascinating discipline.
- Die Wissenschaften sind vielfältig.The sciences are diverse.
- Die moderne WissenschaftThe modern science
- 170 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Hannah are discussing their favorite school subjects.
- JulianInteressierst du dich für Wissenschaft, Hannah?Are you interested in science, Hannah?
- HannahJa, ich liebe Biologie und Chemie.Yes, I love biology and chemistry.
- JulianDie Wissenschaft ist wirklich faszinierend.Science is really fascinating.
- HannahDas stimmt, es gibt so viel zu lernen.That's true, there is so much to learn.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “science” translations and entries Wissenschaft, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Wissenschaft, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
