Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| stinken | /ˈʃtɪŋkən/ |
| riechen | /ˈʁiːçn̩/ /ˈʁiːçən/ (Germany) |
| müffeln |
The verb stinken is used to describe having a strong, offensive or bad smell. If you want to refer to the bad smell itself as a noun, you can use Gestank. When discussing body odor specifically, it is more appropriate to use the term Körpergeruch.
Which one should you use?
While stinken implies a strong and offensive odor, müffeln is used for a milder, more stagnant or musty bad smell. Unlike stinken, the verb riechen is a neutral way to say 'to smell' and can be used for both pleasant and unpleasant odors.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular form of stinken is stinkt, and the past participle is gestunken.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʃtɪŋkən/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use riechen to mean 'to stink'. While it is the general verb for smelling, it does not inherently carry the negative connotation of an offensive odor.
Did you know?
- If a German speaker says Das stinkt, they might not be talking about a smell at all, but suggesting that a situation seems suspicious or 'fishy'.
- The English word 'reek' and the German word riechen actually share the same ancient Proto-Germanic ancestor, *reukaną, which originally meant to smoke or emanate a scent.
- The word müffeln is an iterative form, meaning it describes a smell that is repetitive or lingering, like the scent of a closed, damp cupboard.
Examples in context
- Diese schmutzigen Socken stinken.These dirty socks stink.This sentence shows how to use stinken to describe dirty socks.Tatoeba #2707678 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2707351 by Hybrid
- Fische und Besucher stinken nach drei Tagen.Fish and visitors stink after three days.This sentence uses stinken to describe how fish and visitors smell after three days.Tatoeba #6540297 by Manfredo, translation #6537529 by CK
- Sie stinken.You stink.This sentence uses stinken to tell someone they smell.Tatoeba #4942996 by Hans_Adler, translation #4834656 by shekitten
- Der Gestank in dieser Gegend ist unerträglich.The stench in this area is unbearable.
- Bitte kümmern Sie sich um den üblen Geruch in den Büroräumen.Please address the bad smell in the office spaces.
- Wow, hier stinkt es nach faulen Eiern!Wow, it stinks of rotten eggs here!
- Deine Sportsachen müffeln aber echt!Your sports gear really stinks!
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Lukas are in the kitchen near the trash can.
- JuliaLukas, warum stinken die Müllbeutel so?Lukas, why do the trash bags stink so much?
- LukasIch glaube, da ist alter Fisch drin.I think there is old fish in there.
- JuliaDas stinkt wirklich schrecklich!That really stinks terribly!
- LukasIch bringe den Müll sofort raus.I'll take the trash out immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stink” translations and entries stinken, riechen, müffeln, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries müffeln, riechen, stinken, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
