Languages › German Learn Sports Terms in German Olympic Games, Professional and Recreational Sports Glossary Share Flipboard Email Print Christopher Murray / EyeEm/Getty Images German Vocabulary History & Culture Pronunciation & Conversation Grammar By Hyde Flippo Hyde Flippo German Expert Hyde Flippo taught the German language for 28 years at high school and college levels and published several books on the German language and culture. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on February 26, 2020 Sports are a big part of daily life in German-speaking countries. Bonding over sports games is a great way to make new friends. By learning to discuss sports in German you will make sure that you can participate in the next beer hall conversation. No matter what sport you love you'll find useful terms here. See how to translate sports and Olympics terms from English to German with this vocabulary list. Start with a quick list of sports in alphabetic order in English. English Deutsch alpine skiing der Ski alpin archery das Bogenschießen badminton das Badmintonder Federball ballooning das (Luft-)Ballonfahren baseball der Baseball basketball der Basketball biathlon der Biathlon bobsleigh der Bob boxing das Boxen broad/long jump der Weitsprung bungee jumping das Bungeespringen canoe/kayak das Kanuder/das Kajak caving, spelunking die Höhlenforschung cricket das Kricket cross-country skiing der Langlauf curling das Curling cycling der Radsport diving das Wasserspringen downhill skiing der Abfahrtslauf fencingfencingwith épéeswith foilswith sabres das Fechtender FechtsportDegen fechtenFlorett fechtenSäbel fechten figure skating der Eiskunstlauf football (soccer) der Fußball football (Amer.) der Footballamerikanischer Fußball freestyle aerials das Trickskispringen freestyle moguls die Trickski-Buckelpiste golf das Golf gymnastics die Gymnastikdas Turnen handball der Handball hockey, field hockey das Hockey horseback riding,equestrian das Reiten ice hockey das Eishockey ice skating das Eislaufendas Schlittschuhlaufen indoor handball der Hallenhandball judo das Judo luge, toboggan das Rodeln/Rennrodeln motocross das Motocross motor racing das Autorennender Rennsport mountain climbingmountaineering das Bergsteigen Nordic combined Nordische Kombination Olympics die Olympischen Spieledie Olympiade pentathlon der Fünfkampfder Pentathlon polo das Polo rock climbing das Felsklettern rowing das Rudernder Rudersport rugby das Rugby sailing, yachting das Segeln shooting das Schießen short track (ice) der Short Track skiing das Skilaufen ski jumping das Skispringen slalomgiant slalom der SlalomRiesenslalom snowboarding das Snowboard soccer (football) der Fußball softball der Softball speed skating der Eisschnelllauf spelunking, caving die Höhlenforschung swimming das Schwimmen table tennis das Tischtennis tae kwan do das Taekwando tennis das Tennis toboggan, luge das Rodeln volleyball der Volleyball water polo der Wasserball weight lifting das Gewichtheben wrestling das Ringen Track and Field die Leichtathletik broad/long jump der Weitsprung discus das Diskuswerfen hammer throw das Hammerwerfen high jump der Hochsprung hurdles der Hürdenlauf javelin das Speerwerfen pole vault der Stabhochsprung running100m dash der Laufder 100m-Lauf shot put das Kugelstoßen track (events) Laufwettbewerbe (pl.) triathlon der Dreikampfder Triathlon English-German Sports Glossary Noun genders indicated by: r (der, masc.), e (die, fem.), s (das, neu.)Abbreviations: adj. (adjective), n. (noun), v. (verb), pl. (plural), sing. (singular) A amateur (n.) r Amateur, e Amateurin athlete (n.) r Athlet/e Athletin, r Sportler/e Sportlerin athletic, good at sports (adj.) sportlich athletics (n., pl.) e Athletik (sing. only), r Sport (sing. only) B badminton s Badminton shuttlecock der Federball ball r Ball (r Fußball = soccer ball) baseball (n.) r Baseball baseball bat r Baseballschläger baseball cap r Basecap, e Baseballmütze (baseball) base s Mal, s Base on second base auf Mal/Base zwei (baseball) batter r Schlagmann (baseball) pitcher r Werfer, r Pitcher basketball r Basketball beach volleyball r Strandvolleyball bicycle, bike (n.) s Fahrrad, s Rad, s Velo (Swiss Ger.) motorbike s Motorrad, e Maschine mountain bike s Mountainbike blade, runner (on skates, sled) e Kufe (-n) r Kufenstar ice-skating star bodybuilding s Muskeltraining, s Bodybuilding broad jump (n.) r Weitsprung C caddie (n., golf) r Caddie championship (n.) e Meisterschaft (-en) European Championship e Europameisterschaft (EM) (soccer) world championship e Weltmeisterschaft champion (n.) r Meister, e Meisterin European champion r Europameister cleat, spike (on shoe) r Stollen (-), r Spike (-s) coach (athletics) (n.) r Trainer compete for (a medal) (v.) kämpfen um (eine Medaille) cricket (game) (n.) s Kricket cricket bat s Schlagholz cricket match s Kricketspiel cricket pitch s Kricketfeld crossbar (goal) e Torlatte cycling (n.) der Radsport, s Radfahren D defender (soccer, etc.) r Verteidiger defense, defenders e Verteidigung do/engage in sports (v.) Sport treiben I do sports/engage in sports. Ich treibe Sport. I do gymnastics. Ich bin in Gymnastik. / Ich mache Gymnastik. doping s Doping a draw, tied (adj.) unentschieden E engage in/do sports Sport treiben She likes to do sports. Sie treibt Sport gern. equestrian (rider) r Reiter, e Reiterin equestrian event(s) s Reiten F face mask (sports) e Gesichtsmaske face-off (ice hockey) s Bully fan (of sports) r Fan, r Sportliebhaber favorite (adj.) (game, sport) Lieblings- (s Lieblingsspiel, r Lieblingssport) fencer (sport) r Fechter (-), die Fechterin (-nen)fencing s Fechten with épées Degen fechten with foils Florett fechten with sabres Säbel fechten field, pitch (sports field) s (Sport)Feld, r (Sport)Platz final(s), the final round s Finale, r Endkampf semi-finals s Halbfinale final lap/race r Endlauf finish line s Ziel, e Ziellinie finishing tape s Zielband football r Fußball (soccer, European football) Fußball is often referred to as "König Fußball" (King Soccer) in Germany because of that sport's dominant position over any other Sportart. football (American) r (amerikanische) Footballfootball (soccer) r Fußball Formula One (racing) e Formel-Eins, Formel-1 forward, striker (soccer) r Stürmer freestyle (swimming) (n.) r Freistil the 400m freestyle der 400m-Freistil freestyle relay (race) die Freistilstaffel G game(s) (n.) s Spiel(e), r Wettkampf (match, competition) to go in for (a sport) (eine Sportart) ausüben, betreiben goal (soccer, hockey) s Tor score/shoot a goal ein Tor schiessen goalie, goalkeeper r Tormann, r Torwart/e Torwartin, r Torhüter/e Torhüterin goal post (n.) r Torpfosten golf (n.) s Golf golf ball r Golfball golf cap e Golfmütze golf cart s Golfkart golf club r Golfschläger golf course r Golfplatz golfer r Golfspieler, e Golfspielerin golf tournament s Golfturnier (golf) green s Green The German word Golf has two meanings and two genders. The masculine form, der Golf means "gulf" in English. The game is das Golf. good at/in sports, athletic gut im Sport, sportlich gymnasium (n.) e Turnhalle, e Sporthalle The word gymnasium comes from Greek. A gymnasion was originally a place for physical and mental training. English took the physical side, while German uses the mental meaning. In German, das Gymnasium is an academic secondary school. gymnastics (n.) e Gymnastik gymnastic (adj.) gymnastisch gym shoes (n., pl.) e Turnschuhe gym suit (n.) r Trainingsanzug H hole (golf) e Bahn, s Loch on the ninth hole auf der neunten Bahn on the ninth hole auf dem neunten Loch the 17th hole die 17. Bahn, das 17. Loch high jump r Hochsprung hit (n.) r Treffer hit (the ball) (v.) (den Ball) schlagen (schlug, geschlagen) hurdles (n., pl.) r Hürdenlauf (running), s Hürdenrennen (equestrian) I injury (n.) e Verletzung J javelin (n.) das Speerwerfen jog (v.) joggen (joggte, gejoggt) jogging suit (n.) r Jogging-Anzug jump (n.) r Sprung broad/long jump (n.) r Weitsprung high jump (n.) r Hochsprung jump (v.) springen K kick (v.) kicken (kickte, gekickt) kick (n.) r Kick (a kick in soccer, football) The noun der Kicker/die Kickerin in German refers to a soccer/football player, not just someone playing the position of "kicker." The verb "to kick" can take several forms in German (treten, schlagen). The verb kicken is usually limited to sports. L league e Liga German Federal League (soccer) die Bundesliga long jump (n.) r Weitsprung lose (v.) verlieren (verlor, verloren) We lost (the game). Wir haben (das Spiel) verloren. M medal (n.) e Medaille bronze medal die Bronzemedaille silver medal die Silbermedaille gold medal die Goldmedaille medley, individual medley (race) e Lagen (pl.) the 4x100m medley relays die 4x100m Lagen motocross s Motocross motorcycle, motorbike s Motorrad, e Maschine motor racing r Motorsport mountain bike s Mountainbike mountain climbing, mountaineering (n.) s Bergsteigen N net (n.) s Netz O Olympiad e Olympiade, die Olympischen Spiele Olympic flame das olympische Feuer Olympic torch die olympische Fackel Olympic village das olympische Dorf Olympics e Olympiade, die Olympischen Spiele the Olympic Games (n. pl.) die Olympischen Spiele opening ceremonies (Olympics) die (olympische) Eröffnungsfeier opponent r Gegner, e Gegnerin P pentathlete r Fünfkämpferpentathlon (event) r Fünfkampf pitch (baseball, cricket) (n.) r Wurf, r Pitch pitch, field (sports) s (Sport)Feld, r (Sport)Platz pitch, throw, toss (v.) werfen (warf, geworfen) pitcher (baseball, cricket) r Werfer, r Pitcher piton (n.) r Felshacken (for mountaineering) play (v.) spielen (spielte, gespielt) player r Spieler (m.), e Spielerin (f.) playoff (game), deciding game s Entscheidungsspiel, r Entscheidungskampf final(s) (n.) s Finale point (points) (n.) r Punkt (e Punkte) pole vault (n.) r Stabhochsprung polo s Polo water polo (n.) r Wasserball pro, professional (n.) r Profi, r Berufssportler putt (n., golf) r Puttputting green s Green R race (auto, foot, etc.) (n.) s Rennen, r Wettlauf horse race s Pferderennen motor race s Motorrennen, s Autorennen referee, umpire (n.) r Schiedsrichter relay race, relay team (n.) r Staffellauf, e Staffel freestyle relay (race) die Freistilstaffel results (scores) (n., pl.) e Entscheidung (sing.), die Resultate (pl.) run (v.) laufen (lief, ist gelaufen), rennen (rannte, ist gerannt) runner (n.) r Läufer, e Läuferin running (n.) s Laufen, s Rennen S score (n.) s Ergebnis, r Punktstand, e Punktzahl, e Entscheidung, r Score (golf only) scoreboard (n.) e Anzeigetafel The score was Adler 2, Fire 0. Es stand 2:0 (zwei zu null) für Adler (gegen Fire). What's the score? Wie steht's? score (a goal, point) (v.) ein Tor schießen, einen Punkt erzielen/machen scoreless, nil (adj.) null zu null, torlos (football, soccer) scores, times, results (n., pl.) e Entscheidung (sing.), die Resultate (pl.) serve (tennis) (v.) aufschlagen (schlug auf, aufgeschlagen) shinguard, shinpad r Schienbeinschutz shot put (n.) s Kugelstoßen shoot, fire (gun) (v.) schießen (pron. SHEE-sen)shooting (n.) s Schießenshooting club r Schießverein shooting match s Wettschießenshooting range r Schießplatz, r Schießstandshooting practice e Schießübung soccer (football) r Fußball spectator(s) r Zuschauer (die Zuschauer) spectator sport r Publikumssport spike (on shoe) r Spike (-s) sport(s) (n.) r Sport (singular only) sports equipment e Sportartikel (pl.) sporting/sports event e Sportveranstaltung sports field s Sportfeld, r Sportplatz sports medicine e Sportmedizin sportswear e Sportkleidung type of sport (the sport) die Sportart types of sports die Sportarten (pl.) stadium(s) s Stadion (die Stadien, pl.) stage (of a race, event) e Etappe in the first stage in der ersten Etappe stock-car racing s Stockcarrennen stopwatch e Stoppuhr striker, forward (soccer) r Stürmer swim (v.) schwimmen (schwamm, ist geschwommen) swimming (n.) s Schwimmen swimming pool(s) (n.) s Schwimmbad (-bäder), r Swimmingpool (-pools, pl.) indoor swimming pool (n.) s Hallenbad T table tennis, ping pong (n.) r Tischtennis tackle, tackling (n.) tiefes Fassen, s Fassen und Halten, s Tackling tackle (v.) (tief) fassen (und halten) target, finish line s Ziel target practice e Schießübung shooting target e Schießscheibe team (n.) e Mannschaft, s Team team sports (n., pl.) e Mannschaftssportarten (pl.) tennis (n.) s Tennis tennis clothes die Tenniskleidung tennis court r Tennisplatz tennis racket r Tennisschläger tennis shoes e Tennisschuhe (pl.) throw, toss, pitch (v.) werfen (warf, geworfen) tied, a draw (adj.) unentschieden time (an event) (v.) stoppen, die Zeit messen/nehmen timekeeper (person) (n.) r Zeitnehmer, e Zeitnehmerin timekeeping (n.) e Zeitmessung times (n., pl.) e Zeiten (pl.), e Entscheidung (sing.) track (athletic) e Bahn, e Rennbahn track and field e Leichtathletik (sing. only) training (n.) s Trainieren, e Ausbildung train, work out (v.) trainieren U umpire, referee r Schiedsrichter W water polo r Wasserball win (v.) gewinnen (gewann, gewonnen) They won (the game). Sie haben (das Spiel) gewonnen. world championship e Weltmeisterschaft (WM) World Cup (soccer) r Weltpokal Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Flippo, Hyde. "Learn Sports Terms in German." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/sports-vocabulary-english-german-4071154. Flippo, Hyde. (2023, April 5). Learn Sports Terms in German. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/sports-vocabulary-english-german-4071154 Flippo, Hyde. "Learn Sports Terms in German." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/sports-vocabulary-english-german-4071154 (accessed May 30, 2023). copy citation Featured Video By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies