Wand
/vant/feminine
The English word wall can be translated into German as either Wand or Mauer.
Meaning: substantial structure acting as side or division in a building (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Wand | /vant/ | feminine |
| Mauer | /ˈmaʊ̯ər/ | feminine |
Both terms refer to substantial structures acting as a side or division in a building, but they are used in different contexts depending on the type of wall.
Which one should you use?
Use Wand for interior walls or thin partitions inside a building. Use Mauer for thick, exterior walls made of stone or brick, such as a garden wall or a fortification. For a specific boundary wall, you can use die Begrenzungsmauer.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of Wand is Wände, while the plural of Mauer is Mauern. Both words are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/vant/
Did you know?
- The word Wand is etymologically linked to the idea of weaving or braiding, suggesting an ancient connection between woven fences and solid walls.
- While 'wand' refers to a wall, it is also the root of the verb 'wenden', which means 'to turn' or 'to change direction'.
- In German, the word for a 'wall' in a building can also be used to describe the 'side' of an object, such as the 'Wand' of a vessel.
Examples in context
- Hände an die Wand!Put your hands against the wall.This sentence uses Wand to instruct someone to put their hands against a wall.Tatoeba #6448846 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2871364 by Hybrid
- Tom baut eine Mauer.Tom is building a wall.This sentence uses Mauer to describe someone building a wall.Tatoeba #1714261 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1662824 by Amastan
- Ich baue eine Mauer.I am building a wall.This sentence uses Mauer to describe the speaker building a wall.Tatoeba #1714355 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1664441 by Amastan
- Diese Mauer ist sehr hoch.This wall is very high.
- Bestimmen Sie den optimalen Abstand zur Wand.Determine the optimal distance from the wall.
- An der Wand hängt ein schönes Gemälde.There is a beautiful painting hanging on the wall.
- Wir müssen eine neue Begrenzungsmauer errichten.We need to build a new boundary wall.
- Die Begrenzungsmauer muss aus stabilem Material sein.The boundary wall needs to be made of sturdy material.
- 434 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Lukas are standing in a new apartment.
- JuliaDie Wand ist sehr hoch.The wall is very high.
- LukasWir können sie weiß streichen.We can paint it white.
- JuliaDort hängen viele Bilder an der Wand.Many pictures hang on the wall there.
- LukasDas wird sehr schön aussehen.That will look very beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wall” translations and entries Wand, Mauer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Mauer, Wand, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
