Hemd
/hɛmt/neuter
The German word for shirt is Hemd.
Hemd refers specifically to a button-down shirt.
Meaning: article of clothing (noun)
Which one should you use?
While Hemd refers to a button-down shirt, German speakers use T-Shirt for casual, short-sleeved shirts. The English loanword Shirt is also used for casual shirts.
How does it change in a sentence?
Hemd is a neuter noun, so you use the indefinite article ein Hemd for a shirt. To form the plural, use Hemden. In the genitive case, the word takes an -es ending, becoming des Hemdes (of the shirt).
How do you pronounce it?
/hɛmt/
Did you know?
- The word Hemd is actually a distant linguistic relative of the word 'skin'.
- There is a German idiom jemandem das Hemd vom Leib reißen, which means to strip someone of everything they own or to cheat them out of their money.
- The German expression das Hemd an jemandem kleben means to be very close to someone or to be stuck with them in a way that is often unwanted.
Examples in context
- Wo ist mein Hemd?Where's my shirt?This sentence demonstrates how to ask for the location of your Hemd.Tatoeba #3331999 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2254651 by CK
- Ich mag Ihr Hemd.I like your shirt.This sentence shows how to express that you like someone's Hemd.Tatoeba #7369804 by Yorwba, translation #1887541 by CK
- Gib mir das Hemd!Give me the shirt.This sentence is an example of how to command someone to give you the Hemd.Tatoeba #13636767 by Waldelfe, translation #13320688 by rul
- Guten Tag! Können Sie mir bitte ein blaues Hemd zeigen?Good day! Could you please show me a blue shirt?
- Siehst du dieses coole Shirt? Mir gefällt das Muster.Do you see this cool shirt? I like the pattern.
- Kommst du zum Treffen? Zieh am besten ein T-Shirt an, es wird heiß sein.Are you coming to the meeting? Wear a T-shirt, it will be hot.
- 385 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Julian are getting ready for a party.
- JuliaDas Hemd sieht gut aus, Julian.The shirt looks good, Julian.
- JulianDanke, Julia. Ist es zu groß?Thanks, Julia. Is it too big?
- JuliaNein, das Hemd passt perfekt.No, the shirt fits perfectly.
- JulianGut, dann trage ich es heute.Good, then I will wear it today.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shirt” translations and entries Hemd, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Hemd, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
