Ski
/ʃiː/masculine
The English word "ski" is Ski in German. Wiktionary also lists Schi.
Meaning: one of a pair of long flat runners designed for gliding over snow (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ski | /ʃiː/ | masculine |
| Schi | /ʃiː/ | masculine |
Ski refers to one of a pair of long flat runners designed for gliding over snow. To express the action of skiing, Germans typically use the phrase Ski fahren rather than a single verb. Other related terms include Die Piste (the slope), Der Skilift (the ski lift), Die Skibrille (the ski goggles), Der Skikurs (the ski lesson/course) and Die Skihütte (the ski lodge).
Which one should you use?
Ski is the modern spelling, while Schi is an older, more traditional way to spell the word.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some southern regions, especially Bavaria and Austria, the term Schi is used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Ski is Skier. Note that die Skis is also used as a plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃiː/
Did you know?
- The German word Ski is a doublet of Scheit, which means 'log' or 'piece of wood'. Both words share the same ancestral root reflecting the early days of skiing on wooden planks.
- In the Alps, you will find Skihütten that serve as social hubs. It is common for skiers to spend more time in the Hütte eating Kaiserschmarrn than actually on the Piste.
- The term Après-Ski is a standard part of the German vocabulary, despite combining a French word for 'after' with a Norwegian loanword.
Examples in context
- Ich fahre oft Ski.I often ski.This sentence is useful for saying you often go skiing.Tatoeba #673974 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #253884 by CK
- Kannst du Ski fahren?Can you ski?This sentence is useful for asking if someone can ski.Tatoeba #10987682 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2748477 by CM
- Er kann nicht Ski fahren.He can't ski.This sentence is useful for saying someone cannot ski.Tatoeba #9957346 by wolfgangth, translation #8476391 by CH
- Bitte bringen Sie die Skier zur Skihütte.Please bring the skis to the ski lodge.
- Hey, lass uns Ski fahren gehen!Hey, let's go skiing!
- Wir gehen morgen Schi fahren.We're going skiing tomorrow.
- Ich fahre gerne Ski in den Alpen.I enjoy skiing in the Alps.
- Die Skis sind bereit für die Abfahrt.The skis are ready for the descent.
- 57 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Lukas are preparing their gear for a winter trip.
- SarahWo ist mein linker Ski?Where is my left ski?
- LukasDein Ski liegt dort im Schnee.Your ski is lying there in the snow.
- SarahDanke, Lukas! Jetzt kann ich losfahren.Thanks, Lukas! Now I can start.
- LukasViel Spaß beim Fahren, Sarah!Have fun skiing, Sarah!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ski” translations and entries Ski, Schi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Ski, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
