Schuh
/ʃuː/masculine
The German word for shoe is Schuh. Wiktionary also lists Lackschuh.
Meaning: protective covering for the foot (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Schuh | /ʃuː/ | masculine |
| Lackschuh | masculine |
Schuh is the most common and neutral term for shoe in formal German. You may encounter the compound noun Schuhgröße to mean shoe size, which is formed by combining Schuh and Größe.
Which one should you use?
While Schuh is the general term, you might use Turnschuh to refer specifically to sports shoes or sneakers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Germany and Austria, the term Turnschuh is used for sports shoes or sneakers.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Schuh is a masculine noun. The plural form is Schuhe. When using the genitive singular (for example, to say 'of the shoe'), use the form Schuhs.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃuː/
Did you know?
- In many German households, it is common to wear Hausschuhe or house shoes, as walking barefoot or in outdoor shoes inside is often avoided.
- The word Lackschuh refers specifically to patent leather shoes, combining Lack meaning 'varnish' or 'lacquer' and Schuh.
- The German word Schuh is a direct linguistic cousin to the English word 'shoe', as they both descend from the same ancient Proto-West Germanic root.
Examples in context
- Was ist Toms Schuhgröße?What is Tom's shoe size?This sentence is useful for asking about a specific person's shoe size using the form Schuh.Tatoeba #4709809 by bonny37, translation #4694964 by PvtMarc
- Welche Schuhgröße hast du?What's your shoe size?This sentence is useful for asking about someone's shoe size using the form Schuh.Tatoeba #1557233 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #20131 by CK
- Wo ist dein anderer Schuh?Where's your other shoe?This sentence is useful for asking about a missing shoe using the form Schuh.Tatoeba #10263179 by Yorwba, translation #6626417 by Eccles17
- Hast du meine Kicker gesehen?Have you seen my shoes?
- Ich kaufe mir neue Turnschuhe zum Joggen.I'm buying new sneakers for jogging.
- 81 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Maximilian are at the entrance of a house.
- JuliaDein Schuh liegt hier im Flur.Your shoe is lying here in the hallway.
- MaximilianDanke, Julia, ich habe ihn gesucht.Thanks, Julia, I was looking for it.
- JuliaIst der Schuh bequem?Is the shoe comfortable?
- MaximilianJa, er ist sehr weich.Yes, it is very soft.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shoe” translations and entries Schuh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Schuh, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
