Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rauch | /ʁaʊ̯x/ | masculine |
| Qualm | /kvalm/ | masculine |
| Ràuich | Alemannic German | |
| Ràusch | Alemannic German |
In German, the word for smoke refers to the visible particles and vapour given off by burning material. Related verbs like rauchen are used to describe the act of giving off smoke or the act of inhaling and exhaling smoke from a cigarette.
Which one should you use?
Rauch is the general word for smoke, whereas Qualm specifically refers to a thick, heavy or dense plume of smoke.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Alemannic-German regions, the forms Ràuich and Ràusch are used to mean smoke.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun Rauch is masculine, meaning it is accompanied by the masculine articles der (the) or ein (a).
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁaʊ̯x/
When do people say it?
When discussing smoking, you may encounter the phrase Eine Raucherpause machen (to take a smoke break) or Kippe anzünden (to light a cigarette). Other related terms include Zigarette (cigarette), Zigarettenstummel (cigarette butt), Nikotin (nicotine), Zigarre (cigar) and Pfeife (pipe).
Did you know?
- Some linguists believe Qualm shares a root with the Old English word 'dwolma'. In that ancient context, the word referred to a state of 'benumbment' or 'bemusement' caused by swirling vapors.
Examples in context
- Rauch nicht so viel.Don't smoke so much.This sentence uses the form Rauch.Tatoeba #4948907 by l4t3, translation #4948416 by AlanF_US
- Ich kann Rauch sehen.I can see smoke.Tatoeba #3766191 by Jens_Odo, translation #2301313 by CK
- Er raucht nicht mehr.He doesn't smoke anymore.Tatoeba #12275794 by mhr, translation #12135620 by yujiang
- Wenn Sie rauchen möchten, gehen Sie bitte nach draußen.If you'd like to smoke, please go outside.
- Entschuldigen Sie, darf ich hier rauchen?Excuse me, may I smoke here?
- Hast du eine Kippe?Do you have a cigarette?
- Rauchst du?Do you smoke?
- Entschuldigen Sie, darf man hier rauchen?Excuse me, is smoking allowed here?
- Nein, hier ist rauchfrei.No, this is a smoke-free area.
- 402 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Felix are looking out the window at a distant forest fire.
- SarahSiehst du den Rauch dort?Do you see the smoke there?
- FelixJa, der Rauch ist sehr dunkel.Yes, the smoke is very dark.
- SarahIch mache mich etwas Sorgen.I am a little worried.
- FelixDer Rauch kommt wohl vom Wald.The smoke is probably coming from the forest.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “smoke” translations and entries Rauch, Qualm, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Qualm, Rauch, rauch, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
