Fußball
/ˈfuːsˌbal/masculine
The English phrase "soccer ball" is Fußball in German.
Fußball is a masculine noun used to describe a ball that is designed for use in the sport of soccer.
Meaning: ball that is designed for use in the sport of soccer (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound noun consisting of Fuß (foot) and Ball (ball).
Which one should you use?
In German, Fußball refers to both the sport itself and the ball used in the sport.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because Fußball is a masculine noun, its article changes when it is the direct object of a sentence. The article changes from der to den (as in den Fußball), and the indefinite article ein becomes einen (as in einen Fußball).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈfuːsˌbal/
Did you know?
- If you are talking about the sport of 'American football' in Germany, you must use the English loanword Football to avoid confusion with Fußball.
- Although Fußball is a direct calque of the English 'football', the German word is not a loanword but a native construction.
- Because Fußball is a compound of Fuß and Ball, it follows the rule where the gender of the entire word is determined solely by the last element, 'Ball'.
Examples in context
- Tom hob den Fußball auf.Tom picked up the soccer ball.This sentence shows how to use Fußball as a direct object.Tatoeba #7924586 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #5276567 by Hybrid
- Wie viel wiegt ein Fußball?How much does a soccer ball weigh?Tatoeba #3107882 by freddy1, translation #2912386 by CK
- Ist das der Fußball, den du letzten Monat gekauft hast?Is this the soccer ball you bought last month?Tatoeba #12590515 by Waldelfe, translation #6797046 by CK
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Hannah are preparing to play in the park.
- FelixHast du den Fußball dabei?Do you have the soccer ball with you?
- HannahJa, der Fußball liegt in der Tasche.Yes, the soccer ball is in the bag.
- FelixSuper, dann können wir spielen.Great, then we can play.
- HannahLass uns loslegen, Felix!Let's get started, Felix!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soccer ball” translations and entries Fußball, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Fußball, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
