Donnern
[ˈdɔnɐn]neuter
The English phrase thunder can be translated into German as Donnern. Wiktionary also lists Dunner.
Meaning: deep, rumbling noise (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Donnern | [ˈdɔnɐn] (narrow) | neuter |
| Dunner | Rhine Franconian |
The term refers to a deep, rumbling noise. Related terms for weather phenomena include Blitz (lightning), Regen (rain), Hagel (hail) and Sturm (storm).
Which one should you use?
While Donnern refers to the rumbling sound or the act of thundering, the standard noun for the phenomenon of thunder itself is Donner.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Dunner is a dialectal variation used in the Rhine-Franconian region.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form Donnern is versatile as it can function as both a neuter noun meaning 'a rumbling' and a verb meaning 'to thunder'.
Did you know?
- The English word 'Thursday' comes from the same linguistic root as Donner, as it originally meant 'Thor's day' or 'Donar's day'.
- In German folklore, the god Donar was the personification of thunder, and his name is the direct ancestor of the modern word Donner.
- The word Donner is used in the common German exclamation Donnerwetter, which can express surprise, anger or amazement, similar to the English 'good grief'.
Examples in context
- Ich hörte ein fernes Donnern.I heard it thunder in the distance.This sentence is useful for describing hearing a distant rumbling using Donnern.Tatoeba #10324014 by Yorwba, translation #25840 by CK
- In der Ferne konnten wir es donnern hören.In the distance, we could hear thunder.This sentence is useful for describing the ability to hear thunder in the distance using Donnern.Tatoeba #10593716 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10592988 by CK
- Wenn ich es donnern höre, wird mir angst und bange.When I hear thunder, I get very scared.This sentence is useful for expressing the fear felt when hearing thunder using Donnern.Tatoeba #10106959 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10106921 by CK
- Während des Gewitters hörte man den Donner in der Ferne.During the thunderstorm, one could hear the thunder in the distance.
- Ein starkes Gewitter mit lautem Donner zog über die Stadt.A strong thunderstorm with loud thunder passed over the city.
- Donnerwetter! Das war ein lauter Donnerschlag!Wow! That was a loud clap of thunder!
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Lukas are sitting in their living room during a storm.
- LauraHörst du das tiefe Donnern?Do you hear the deep rumbling of thunder?
- LukasJa, es ist wirklich laut.Yes, it is really loud.
- LauraDas Donnern macht mir ein bisschen Angst.The thunder makes me a little scared.
- LukasKeine Sorge, Laura, wir sind hier drinnen sicher.Don't worry, Laura, we are safe in here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thunder” translations and entries Donnern, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
