Geldbörse
/ˈɡɛltˌbœʁzə/feminine
The English word wallet is translated into German as Geldbörse. It is also spelled Portmonee. Wiktionary also lists Portemonnaie and Brieftasche.
Meaning: case for keeping money (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Geldbörse | /ˈɡɛltˌbœʁzə/ /ˈɡɛltˌbœʁsɛ/ |
feminine |
| Portemonnaie | /pɔʁt.moˈneː/ /ˈpɔʁt-/ |
neuter |
| Portmonee | neuter, alternative form | |
| Brieftasche | /ˈbʁiːfˌtaʃə/ | feminine |
| Geldbeutel | /ˈɡɛltˌbɔɪ̯tl̩/ | masculine |
| Börse | /ˈbœrzə/ /ˈbœɐ̯zə/ |
feminine |
All these terms refer to a case used for keeping money.
What does it mean word for word?
Geldbeutel is a compound of Geld (money) and Beutel (pouch/bag). Geldbörse is a compound of Geld (money) and Börse (purse/exchange).
Which one should you use?
Portemonnaie and its alternative spelling Portmonee are neuter nouns. Geldbeutel is a masculine noun. Brieftasche, Geldbörse and Börse are feminine nouns.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because Geldbeutel is masculine, it changes to den Geldbeutel in the accusative case. Because Geldbörse is feminine, the accusative form remains die Geldbörse.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɡɛltˌbœʁzə/
Did you know?
- The word Beutel in Geldbeutel is also used for the pouch of a marsupial, such as a kangaroo, which is called a Beuteltier.
- The term Brieftasche literally translates to 'letter pocket'. This is a linguistic remnant from a time when people carried letters and documents in the same pouch as their money.
- The word Börse refers to both a personal wallet and a national stock exchange. This duality reflects how both are central locations for the movement of money.
Examples in context
- Wo ist mein Geldbeutel?Where's my wallet?This sentence is useful for asking about the location of your Geldbeutel.Tatoeba #4708013 by tarsier, translation #2254656 by CK
- Hol dein Portmonee raus.Get out your wallet.This sentence is useful for telling someone to take out their Portmonee.Tatoeba #8244960 by MisterTrouser, translation #18557 by Zifre
- Tom sucht seine Geldbörse.Tom is looking for his wallet.This sentence is useful for describing someone looking for their Geldbörse.Tatoeba #3458048 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #3449258 by CK
- Bitte legen Sie Ihre Brieftasche in die Schale für die Sicherheitsüberprüfung.Please place your wallet in the tray for security screening.
- Kannst du mir bitte meine Geldbörse geben? Ich denke, ich habe sie in deinem Auto vergessen.Can you please give me my wallet? I think I left it in your car.
- Wo ist mein Portemonnaie? Ich muss noch schnell etwas Geld abheben.Where is my wallet? I need to withdraw some money quickly.
- 245 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Lukas are sitting in a cafe.
- JuliaHast du deine Geldbörse dabei?Do you have your wallet with you?
- LukasJa, sie liegt in meiner Tasche.Yes, it is in my bag.
- JuliaGut, ich bezahle das Getränk.Good, I will pay for the drink.
- LukasDanke, das ist sehr nett von dir.Thanks, that is very kind of you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wallet” translations and entries Geldbörse, Portemonnaie, Portmonee, Brieftasche, Geldbeutel, Börse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Brieftasche, Geldbeutel, Portemonnaie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
