Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| süß | /zyːs/ (standard) /syːs/ (Austria) |
| lecker | /ˈlɛkɐ/ |
The word süß describes a pleasant, sugary or honey-like taste. Similar to English, it can also be used metaphorically to describe a person's behavior or appearance as 'sweet' or 'cute'. The noun Süße refers to the concept of sweetness. For sugary confections, you can use the feminine noun Süßigkeit or Bonbon.
Which one should you use?
While both words can describe food, süß refers specifically to a sugary or honey-like taste, whereas lecker is a more general term meaning 'delicious' or 'tasty'. If you want to describe a sentient being as 'cute', the word niedlich is the more precise choice, though süß can be used metaphorically in a similar way.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun for a sweet or a confection is the feminine noun Süßigkeit.
How do you pronounce it?
/zyːs/
Did you know?
- The word lecker is also used in Afrikaans, where it has evolved to mean 'great' or 'cool' in a general sense.
- The German word lecker shares the same ancient root as the English word 'lick', stemming from a Proto-West Germanic verb meaning 'to lick'.
- The term Bonbon is used in German for a hard candy, borrowing from French rather than using a native root like süß.
Examples in context
- Es ist so süß.It's so sweet.This sentence shows how to use süß to describe a quality.Tatoeba #2323906 by Zaghawa, translation #2249280 by CK
- Es war so süß.It was so sweet.This sentence shows the past tense usage of süß.Tatoeba #10083926 by wolfgangth, translation #5758334 by CM
- Du bist so süß!You are so sweet!This sentence shows how to use süß to describe a person.Tatoeba #973765 by jakov, translation #973766 by jakov
- Der Kuchen schmeckt süß.The cake tastes sweet.
- Sie ist so süß.She is so sweet.
- Ich esse gerne Süßigkeiten.I like to eat sweets.
- Diese Torte ist voller Süßigkeiten.This cake is full of sweets.
- Der Welpe ist so niedlich!The puppy is so cute!
- Dein Lächeln ist wirklich niedlich.Your smile is really sweet.
- Dein Liebesbrief ist sehr schmusig!Your love letter is very sweet/affectionate!
- Es ist süß!It is sweet!
- Das ist eine süße VersuchungThat is a sweet temptation
- 217 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Lukas are sharing a dessert in a cafe.
- HannahDer Kuchen ist sehr süß.The cake is very sweet.
- LukasJa, er ist wirklich süß.Yes, it is really sweet.
- HannahMöchtest du noch etwas?Do you want some more?
- LukasNein danke, ich bin satt.No thanks, I am full.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sweet” translations and entries süß, lecker, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lecker, süß, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
