Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lied | /ˈliːt/ (Austria) | neuter |
| Gesang | /ɡəˈzaŋ/ | masculine |
| Song | /sɔŋ/ /zɔŋ/ |
masculine |
The term refers to music with words. You can use it to specify types of music, such as ein Liebeslied (a love song), ein Volkslied (a folk song) or ein Rocklied (a rock song).
Which one should you use?
While Lied is the standard German word for a song, it often implies a more traditional or classical composition. In contrast, Gesang refers to the act of singing or the art of singing rather than a specific individual musical composition. The loanword Song is used specifically for modern music like pop, rock or jazz.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a broad, formal term for a musical composition, you can use Das Musikstück. For a colloquial way to refer to songs, use Die Nummer. The word Song is a colloquial English loanword commonly used among German speakers.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of Lied is Lieder. If you are using the loanword Song, the plural is Songs. The plural of Gesang is Gesänge, which is often used to describe choral works or repetitive chants.
How do you pronounce it?
Lied is pronounced /ˈliːt/.
Did you know?
- The German word Song is a doublet of the native word Sang. This means they both originate from the same ancient root but entered the modern language through different paths.
- The plural form of Lied is Lieder, which is also the name of a famous genre of German art songs used by composers like Schubert.
- While Lied means 'song', the related word Liedtext refers specifically to the lyrics. German distinguishes strictly between the musical composition and the written words of a song.
Examples in context
- Er sang ein Lied.He sang a song.This sentence shows the use of Lied in a past tense context.Tatoeba #642165 by samueldora, translation #283456 by CK
- Wie geht das Lied?How does the song go?This sentence is useful for asking how a melody or song is performed.Tatoeba #649620 by samueldora, translation #49287 by CK
- Das ist mein Lied!This is my song!This sentence demonstrates how to express ownership of a Lied.Tatoeba #1218878 by samueldora, translation #8343280 by GHPL
- Ich liebe dieses LiedI love this song
- Dieses Musikstück wurde letzte Woche veröffentlichtThis song was released last week
- Kennst du diesen Song?Do you know this song?
- Diese Nummer geht richtig ab!This song is really awesome!
- Was ist dein Lieblingslied?What is your favorite song?
- Ich bin verrückt nach diesem LiedI'm crazy about this song
- Dieses Lied ist ein HitThis song is a hit
- Das Lied ist eingängigThe song is catchy
- 571 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Julia are in a car listening to the radio.
- FelixDieses Lied ist wirklich schön.This song is really beautiful.
- JuliaJa, ich liebe diesen Song.Yes, I love this song.
- FelixKennst du den Namen des Liedes?Do you know the name of the song?
- JuliaNein, leider weiß ich es nicht.No, unfortunately I don't know it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “song” translations and entries Lied, Gesang, Song, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Gesang, Lied, Song, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
