Himmel
[ˈhɪml̩]
The English phrase 'skies' is translated into German as Himmel.
Himmel refers to the upper atmosphere and the space above the earth. In German, this single word covers the meaning of both the singular 'sky' and the plural 'skies' in most contexts.
Which one should you use?
While English distinguishes between 'sky' and 'heaven', the German word Himmel is used for both the physical 'sky' and the religious 'heaven'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to say that something is 'in the sky', use the preposition an to form the phrase am Himmel. Avoid using im Himmel for the physical sky, as im Himmel usually refers to the religious concept of heaven.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying im Himmel when referring to something located in the physical sky. Instead, use am Himmel to ensure you are not referring to the religious heaven.
Did you know?
- The phrase den Himmel aufreißen (to tear open the sky) is an idiomatic way to describe a sudden and violent storm or a torrential downpour.
- The word Himmel is used in the expression Um Himmels willen!, which means 'for heaven's sake!' It is a common exclamation of shock or urgency that has nothing to do with the weather or the atmosphere.
- The word Himmel is a cognate of the English word 'heaven', as both derive from an ancient root referring to a covering or canopy.
Examples in context
- Guten Morgen, o du blauer Himmel!Good morning, blue skies!This sentence is useful for seeing how to address the blue sky.Tatoeba #1597810 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1457802 by marcelostockle
- Der Ausbruch schwärzte den Himmel.The eruption blackened the skies.This sentence demonstrates how an eruption can change the appearance of the sky.Tatoeba #9006934 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #8969640 by Hybrid
- Die Feuer in Kalifornien färbten den Himmel orange.Fires in California turned the skies orange.This sentence shows how fires can change the color of the sky.Tatoeba #10545505 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #9032483 by Hybrid
- Der Himmel ist heute wunderschön.The skies are beautiful today.
- Ich habe die Sterne am Himmel gezählt.I counted the stars in the sky.
- Das Firmament zeigt uns seine ganze Schönheit.The skies reveal their beauty to us.
- Was für ein wunderschöner Himmel heute!What a beautiful sky today!
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Julia are looking out the window on a clear day.
- JulianSchau mal, der Himmel ist heute so klar!Look, the sky is so clear today!
- JuliaJa, der Himmel sieht wunderschön aus.Yes, the sky looks beautiful.
- JulianIch liebe diesen blauen Himmel.I love this blue sky.
- JuliaEs ist ein perfekter Tag für einen Spaziergang.It is a perfect day for a walk.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Himmel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Himmel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
