Sonne
/ˈzɔnə/feminine
The English word 'sun' is translated into German as Sonne. If unsure, use Sonne. Wiktionary also lists sunn and Sunne.
Meaning: the star around which the Earth revolves (name)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sonne | /ˈzɔnə/ /ˈsɔnɛ/ (Austrian, standard) |
feminine |
| sunn | ||
| Sunne | Alemannic German, feminine | |
| sunna (Mulhouse) | feminine | |
| sun | feminine |
Sonne refers to the star around which the Earth revolves or any star seen as the center of a solar system. It is a feminine noun.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Alemannic German, you may see the form Sunne. In Mulhouse, the form sunna (Mulhouse) is used. The forms sun and sunn are also present in the language.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Use Sonne when referring to the celestial body, but use Sonnenschein when you want to refer to the brightness or the sunshine itself. The adjective form of Sonne is sonnig, which means 'sunny'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of Sonne is /ˈzɔnə/.
Did you know?
- The word Sonne shares the same ancient Indo-European root as the Sanskrit word 'sū́rya'.
- The word Sonne is feminine in German, whereas the word for 'sun' in many other Indo-European languages is masculine.
- The German word for 'sun' is a close linguistic cousin to the Lithuanian word 'saulė' and the Welsh word 'haul'.
Examples in context
- Wo ist die Sonne?Where is the sun?This sentence is useful for asking about the location of the Sonne.Tatoeba #3262936 by faehrmann, translation #3997922 by Jesse
- Ich mag die Sonne.I like the sun.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for the Sonne.Tatoeba #773912 by BraveSentry, translation #4128358 by AlanF_US
- Ist die Sonne rot?Is the sun red?This sentence is useful for asking about the color of the Sonne.Tatoeba #12553655 by Waldelfe, translation #12552645 by ZakariaHard
- Die Sonne lachtThe sun is laughing
- Die Sonne scheint hell am Himmel.The sun is shining brightly in the sky.
- Ich werde heute den Sonnenschein in vollen Zügen genießen.Today, I will fully enjoy the sunshine.
- 795 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A sunny day at the park.
- JuliaDie Sonne scheint heute sehr stark.The sun is shining very brightly today.
- JulianJa, es ist sehr heiß.Yes, it is very hot.
- JuliaJulian, wir brauchen Sonnencreme.Julian, we need sunscreen.
- JulianIch habe sie in der Tasche.I have it in my bag.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sun” translations and entries Sonne, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Sonne, sonne, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
