nass
/nas/
The English word 'wet' is translated into German as nass. Wiktionary also lists feucht.
Meaning: of an object: covered with or impregnated with liquid (adj)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| nass | /nas/ |
| feucht | /fɔʏ̯çt/ |
nass is used for objects that are saturated or heavily covered in liquid, such as clothes in the rain. If something has become waterlogged or thoroughly saturated with water, you may also use durchweicht.
Which one should you use?
Use nass for things that are thoroughly wet, while feucht is used for things that are damp or moist.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the action of wetting something, you can use the phrase nass machen in many casual contexts. To describe the process of becoming wet, use nass werden. Other verbs for covering or impregnating something with liquid include befeuchten, durchnässen and nass machen.
How do you pronounce it?
/nas/
Did you know?
- The German word nass shares a common ancestor with the Ancient Greek word νότος, which refers to 'the south wind'.
- While feucht means 'damp', it is also the root for the German word for 'humidity', Feuchtigkeit.
- When an object becomes so waterlogged that it starts to lose its physical shape or strength, Germans use the specific term durchweicht.
Examples in context
- Es ist sehr nass.It is very wet.This sentence uses nass to describe a state of being very wet.Tatoeba #5166294 by Sciuro_Kvar, translation #5165092 by tabular
- Warum ist Tom nass?Why is Tom wet?This sentence uses nass to ask why a person is wet.Tatoeba #2717215 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2549584 by CK
- Die Katze ist nass.The cat is wet.This sentence uses nass to describe a wet cat.Tatoeba #8307836 by Luiaard, translation #1780076 by Spamster
- Der Boden ist nass.The floor is wet.
- Bitte verwenden Sie den Regenschirm – es regnet und Sie könnten nass werden.Please use the umbrella – it's raining, and you might get wet.
- Es ist heute draußen ziemlich feucht.It's quite damp outside today.
- Bitte reiche mir ein Taschentuch, meine Hände sind feucht.Please pass me a tissue, my hands are wet.
- Nach dem Regenguss war ich patschnass.After the downpour, I was soaking wet.
- Die Wäsche, die ich draußen aufgehängt habe, ist jetzt patschnass.The laundry I hung outside is now soaking wet.
- Die Schuhe sind völlig durchweicht.The shoes are completely soaked.
- 231 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Sarah are coming inside after a rain shower.
- MaximilianDeine Jacke ist komplett nass, Sarah.Your jacket is completely wet, Sarah.
- SarahJa, ich habe keinen Regenschirm dabei.Yes, I don't have an umbrella with me.
- MaximilianIst dein Handy auch nass geworden?Did your phone get wet too?
- SarahNein, es war in meiner Tasche.No, it was in my bag.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wet” translations and entries nass, feucht, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries feucht, nass, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
