Himmel
[ˈhɪml̩]masculine
The German word for sky is Himmel.
Himmel refers to the atmosphere above a given point, specifically the place where the sun, moon, stars and clouds are visible from the Earth's surface. It is also a polysemous word, meaning it is used to refer to both the physical sky and the religious concept of heaven.
Meaning: atmosphere above a given point, especially as visible from the surface of the Earth as the place where the sun, moon, stars, and clouds are seen (noun)
Which one should you use?
While Himmel is the standard term for the sky or heaven, you may encounter Das Firmament, which refers specifically to the celestial vault or dome.
How does it change in a sentence?
In standard German, Himmel is a masculine noun. When used as the direct object of a sentence, use the accusative form den Himmel. For the indirect object or when following certain prepositions, use the dative form dem Himmel. To indicate possession or the genitive case (e.g., 'of the sky'), use des Himmels.
Did you know?
- In German astronomy, the term 'Himmelsrichtungen' is used to refer to the 'cardinal directions', literally translating to 'directions of the sky'.
- The word Himmelfahrt refers to the Ascension of Jesus, combining Himmel with Fahrt, which means 'journey' or 'trip'.
- In some regional dialects, Himmel is used as a mild exclamation of surprise or frustration, similar to 'Good heavens' in English.
Examples in context
- Der Himmel war rot.The sky was red.This sentence is useful for describing the color of the Himmel in the past tense.Tatoeba #2348386 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2347347 by Hybrid
- Der Himmel ist rot.The sky is red.This sentence is useful for describing the color of the Himmel in the present tense.Tatoeba #5967833 by Ronja, translation #5966473 by mailohilohi
- Der Himmel ist klar.The sky is clear.This sentence is useful for describing the clarity of the Himmel.Tatoeba #1341343 by Zaghawa, translation #433662 by CK
- Der Himmel ist heute wolkenlosThe sky is cloudless today.
- In seinen Augen spiegelt sich das blaue FirmamentHis eyes reflect the blue firmament.
- Gestern war der Himmel mit goldenen Wolken bedecktYesterday, the sky was covered with golden clouds.
- Die Sonne verschwindet hinter dem Horizont und färbt den Himmel orangeThe sun disappears behind the horizon, coloring the sky orange.
- Ich träume von einem klaren Himmel voller funkelnder SterneI dream of a clear sky full of twinkling stars.
- 439 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Maximilian are standing in a garden on a sunny day.
- HannahSiehst du den blauen Himmel?Do you see the blue sky?
- MaximilianJa, der Himmel sieht wunderschön aus.Yes, the sky looks beautiful.
- HannahIch liebe dieses Wetter.I love this weather.
- MaximilianIch auch, Hannah.Me too, Hannah.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sky” translations and entries Himmel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
