German words starting with D

451 words. Each one has its meanings, a checked example sentence with a word-by-word translation, and audio.

da there
dabei with one, on one
das Dach roof
der Dachboden attic
das Dachgeschoss attic, loft, top floor
der Dachs badger
dadurch through it, through that
dafür for that, for it
dagegen against it, against that
daheim home, at home (adverb)
daher therefore; because of that; hence; thus
dahin there (to or into that place; thither)
dahinter behind it/that
damalig then, at the time
damals at that time (in the past); at the time, then
die Dame lady (woman of good breeding and manners)
damit with it, with that
dämlich very stupid
der Damm embankment
dämmern to dawn (of day, morning); to fall (of dusk, evening)
die Dämmerung twilight at the beginning or end of a day, dawn and dusk
die Dämmung insulation (thermal)
der Dämon demon
der Dampf steam
der Dampfer steamer (steamboat, steamship)
die Dampflokomotive steam locomotive
danach after it, after that; thereafter (formal), afterwards
daneben next to it, next to that
dänisch Danish
der Dank thanks, gratitude, appreciation
dankbar grateful, thankful
die Dankbarkeit gratitude, gratefulness, thankfulness
danke thanks, thank you
danken to thank
das Dankeschön thanks, thank-you message, word of thanks
dann then, after that
daran on it, on that
darauf after (behind; later in time; following)
darauffolgend subsequent, following
daraufhin thereupon, consequently, subsequently
daraus out of it, out of that, of it
darein into it, into that
darin in it, in that, therein
die Darlegung explanation, analysis
das Darlehen loan
der Darm intestine, gut
darstellen to depict; represent
der Darsteller actor, player, performer
die Darstellung depiction, presentation
der / das Dart a dart (small missile used in the game of darts)
darüber about it/this/that (concerning a matter)
darum around it, around that
darunter below it, below that, thereunder
das this, that, it
dass that
dastehen to stand there
das Date date (romantic meeting)
die Datei file
das Daten data, plural of Datum (“piece of information”)
die Datenbank database
der Datenschutz data privacy
datiert dated; bearing a date
die Datierung dating (age determination), (date stamping)
dato to date, so far (in the fixed phrase 'bis dato')
die Dattel date (fruit; tree)
das Datum date (specific day for an event to take place)
die Dauer duration
der Dauerauftrag standing order (regular transfer of fixed sum between bank accounts)
dauerhaft permanent, lasting, enduring, durable
dauern to last, to continue, to persist (for a period of time)
der Daumen thumb
Daumen drücken to cross one's fingers; to wish good luck; to hope for the best
davon from it, from that, therefrom, off it, off that
davor in front of that/it
dazu in addition to it, in addition, besides
dazugehörig associated, corresponding; belonging with it
dazwischen between them
deaktivieren to deactivate, to disable (to put out of operation)
der Deal deal (often implying a dubious nature)
der Dealer drug dealer (one who illegally sells recreational drugs)
die Debatte debate
das Debüt debut
der Dechant dean (kind of church official)
das Deck deck (of a ship or boat)
die Decke ceiling (surface at the upper limit of a room or cavity)
der Deckel lid, cap (the cover of a container)
decken to cover (e.g. a demand, a loss; but not “to provide news coverage”)
die Deckung cover
deep deep (intellectually profound)
defekt broken, out of order
defensiv defensive
definieren to define
die Definition definition
definitiv definitive, conclusive, decisive
das Defizit deficit
der Degen rapier, smallsword
dehnen to stretch
die Dehnübung stretching exercise
der Deich dike, levee (embankment holding back water)
dein thy, your (esp. to friends, relatives, children, etc.)
deiner yours, thine (substantival possessive)
deinstallieren to uninstall
der Dekan dean (head of a university faculty)
die Dekoration decoration
das Dekret decree
der Dekubitus pressure sore, bedsore
die Delegation delegation
der Delphin dolphin
das Delta delta (Greek letter)
dementieren to deny (publicly or officially)
dementsprechend corresponding
die Demenz dementia
demgegenüber in contrast to that
demnach therefore, consequently (describing the reasoning process of the speaker)
demnächst soon, in a near time, in a short while, in near future
der Demokrat democrat
die Demokratie democracy
demokratisch democratic
der Demonstrant demonstrator, protester (male or of unspecified gender)
die Demonstration demonstration (act of demonstrating)
demonstrieren to demonstrate (to participate in or organize a public display of group opinion)
die Demut humility, meekness (comprehension or expression of one’s own lowliness)
die Demütigung humiliation
demzufolge therefore, hence
den Aufschlag durchbringen to hold serve
den Faden verlieren to lose the thread, lose the plot
den Führerschein machen to get one's driving licence (lessons and test)
denen whom, (to) which, that
denkbar conceivable, imaginable, thinkable
denken to think, to believe, to assume, to conjecture
der Denker thinker, philosopher
das Denkmal monument, memorial
die Denkmalpflege historic preservation (endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance)
der Denkmalschutz monument protection, cultural heritage management (regulation to preserve architecturally or culturally significant structures)
die Denkweise mindset
denn so, then, ever, but, now; used for emphasis or to express interest, surprise or doubt, or in rhetorical questions
dennoch anyhow, however
denunzieren to denounce, to inform against
das Deodorant deodorant
das Department department
das Depot depot, repository
die Depression depression
depressiv depressed
der the (masculine nominative singular definite article)
derart so, thus, in such a manner
das Derby an eagerly anticipated match between two rivals
dereinst one day
dergleichen such
derjenige the one
derlei this kind / type / sort
dermaßen to such an extent, so much
derselbe the same
derweil meanwhile, meantime
derzeit currently, at present (implying that this state is likely temporary)
derzeitig current, present, prevailing (often implies an expected change or further development in the future)
das Desaster disaster
deshalb therefore; for that (reason), because of that
das Design design (creative profession or art)
die Desinfektion disinfection
das Desinfektionsmittel disinfectant
desinfizieren to disinfect
der Desktop desktop
dessen whose, of which
das Dessert dessert
das Dessous lingerie
desto the (forming the parallel comparative with je)
deswegen therefore, because of that
det it
das Detail detail
der Detektiv private investigator, private detective, sleuth (male or of unspecified gender)
deuten to interpret (e.g. dreams), to understand, to read (e.g. signs)
deutlich articulate, clear
deutsch German (of or pertaining to the German people)
der Deutscher German (male or unspecified)
deutschlandweit Germany-wide; in all of Germany
deutschsprachig German-speaking
die Deutung interpretation, analysis
die Devise motto
devot submissive, servile
der Dez head
der Dezember December
dezent discreet; tactful
das Dia slide (transparent image, to be projected to a screen)
der Diabetes diabetes
der Diabetiker diabetic
die Diagnose diagnosis
die Diagnostik diagnostics
diagnostizieren to diagnose
das Diagramm diagram
die Diakonie social work (social welfare work) provided by churches
der Dialekt dialect
die Dialektik dialectic
der Dialog dialogue
der Diamant diamond (allotrope of carbon)
die Diät diet
dicht thick, tight, dense
die Dichte density
der Dichter poet (male or of unspecified gender)
die Dichtung poetry
dick thick
dicke amply, sufficiently
der Dicker mate, buddy, dude (informal term of address)
der Dieb thief (male or of unspecified gender)
der Diebstahl theft
dienen to serve
der Dienst service
der Dienstag Tuesday
dienstags on Tuesdays, every Tuesday
der Dienstleister service provider
die Dienstleistung service, provision of services
der Dienstleistungssektor service sector (the portion of the economy that produces intangible goods)
das Dienstmädchen maid, housemaid
der Dienstplan duty roster, work schedule
die Dienstreise business trip
die Dienststelle office, agency
diesbezüglich referring to this, in this regard, concerning this
der Diesel diesel (vehicle powered by a diesel engine)
der Dieselmotor diesel engine, diesel motor
dieser this one, this
diesjährig this year's, of this year
diesmal this time
diesseits this side of
der Dietrich picklock
die Differenz difference
differenzieren to differentiate
differenziert nuanced
die Differenzierung differentiation
der Digga bro, dude; informal term of address
digital digital
die Digitalisierung digitization
das Diktat dictation
der Diktator dictator
die Diktatur dictatorship
das Dilemma dilemma, predicament (a choice between equally unsatisfactory options)
der Dill dill (herb of the species Anethum graveolens)
die Dimension dimension
das Ding thing
das Dinner dinner
der Dino dinosaur, dino
der Dinosaurier dinosaur
die Diözese diocese
das Diplom diploma (higher education only, e.g., Master’s degree)
der Diplomat diplomat
die Diplomatie diplomacy
direkt direct, straight, without deviation or interruption
die Direktion management, administration (function of running an organization)
der Direktor principal (administrator of a school)
der Dirigent director, conductor, maestro, choirmaster
dirigieren to conduct
das Dirndl dirndl (traditional dress worn in Bavaria and Austria)
das Dis D-sharp
die Disco discotheque, nightclub
der Discounter discount shop, cut-price store
diskret discreet
die Diskretion discretion
diskriminieren to discriminate against
die Diskriminierung discrimination
der Diskurs discourse (verbal exchange or conversation)
die Diskussion discussion, debate
diskutieren to discuss
das Display display (small screen on an electronic device such as a watch or mobile phone)
die Disposition disposal
die Dissertation dissertation (for a doctoral degree)
die Distanz distance
distanzieren to distance
die Distribution distribution
die Disziplin discipline
dito ditto
die Dividende dividend
die Division division (military formation)
doch after all; yet; however; nevertheless
der Doktor doctor
der Doktorand doctoral student, PhD student, doctorand
die Doktorarbeit doctoral dissertation (thesis to obtain the academic degree of doctor)
der Doktortitel doctor's degree
die Doktrin doctrine
die Doku documentary
das Dokument document
der Dokumentarfilm documentary
die Dokumentation documentary (mainly informative product(ion), as opposed to fiction or 'day to day' event reporting)
dokumentieren to document
der Dolch dagger
doll firm, hard, forceful, strong (of actions, also of emotions)
der Dollar dollar
der Dolmetscher interpreter (one who translates in real time; male or of unspecified sex)
der Dom cathedral (church serving as seat of a bishop, by extension, any large church)
die Domain domain; domain name
dominant dominant
die Dominanz dominance
dominieren to dominate
der Don don (honorific title, especially in Spain and Italy)
der Döner the kind of meat used in doner kebab
der Döner Kebab doner kebab
der Donner thunder
der Donnerstag Thursday
der Donnerstagabend Thursday evening
donnerstags on Thursdays, every Thursday
das Donnerwetter wow!, gosh!; expresses great surprise, often impression
der Donut doughnut
doof stupid, dumb
das Doping doping
das Doppel doubles
der Doppelfehler double fault
doppeln to double
der Doppelpack twin pack, two-pack (a packet, e.g. of a food item, containing two)
der Doppelpass one-two, give-and-go
das Doppelzimmer double room
das Dorf village (rural habitation of size between a hamlet and a town)
der Dorfbewohner villager (male or of unspecified gender)
der Dorn thorn (with plural Dornen or Dörner)
dort there, yonder
dorthin there (to that place), thither
die Dose tin, can (air-tight container for food)
die Dosierung dosage
die Dosis dose
das Double stand-in, double (actor who shoots certain scenes for another)
down down, depressed
der Download a download
downloaden to download (transfer data from a remote computer to a local one)
der Dozent lecturer, instructor (at the university level; male or of unspecified sex)
der Drache dragon
der Draht wire (thread of metal; conductor)
der Drahtesel trusty old bike (colloquial)
drahtlos wireless
das Drama drama
dramatisch dramatic
dran well or badly off (in gut/schlecht dran sein)
der Drang urge; impulse; longing
drängeln to push, jostle (as through crowd, in a queue)
drängen to push, press (living beings, vehicles etc. in some direction)
drastisch drastic
drauf to know how to do something; to have mastered it (etwas draufhaben)
draußen outside
der Dreck dirt
dreckig dirty
der Dreh knack, trick
das Drehbuch script, screenplay
der Drehbuchautor screenwriter
drehen to turn
das Drehmoment torque
die Drehung rotation, turn
das Dreieck triangle (three-pointed shape)
der Dreier three-pointer
die Dreierlinie three-point line
dreimal thrice, three times
dreist bold, brash, audacious, impudent (without respect or restraint)
dreiviertel quarter to, a quarter-hour before, 15 minutes before (used with the number of the following hour)
der Dress kit, strip, sports outfit
dribbeln to dribble
das Dribbling dribbling
drin inside
dringend urgent
die Dringlichkeit urgency
der Drink an alcoholic drink, especially one containing liquor and some other liquid, like a cocktail or long drink
drinnen inside (a room)
dritt in zu dritt (as a group of three)
dritte third
der Drittel third
die Drittelregel rule of thirds
drittens thirdly
der Drive drive (self-motivation)
die Droge drug (psychoactive substance, especially one which is illegal)
die Drogerie a retail store selling beauty, hygiene and household related products as well as certain non-prescription medications, roughly equivalent to a drugstore/chemist
drohen to threaten
die Drohne drone (unmanned aircraft)
die Drohung threat (expression of intent to injure or punish another)
drüben over there
der Druck pressure
drucken to print (a book, newspaper etc.)
drücken to press, to push (a button/key; a finger or other object against something)
der Drucker printer (device)
der Drücker at the last minute (in the phrase auf den letzten Drücker)
die Druckerei printing house, printery
drumherum around, all around
du you (singular familiar), thou
das Du the thou, the you (singular)
dual dual
der Dübel wall plug, dowel
ducken to duck, to crouch down (usually reflexive: sich ducken)
das Duell duel (combat between two persons)
das Duett duet
der Duft aroma, fragrance
dulden to endure
dumm dumb, stupid
die Dummheit stupidity
düngen to fertilize
der Dünger fertilizer
der Dunk dunk
dunkel dark
die Dunkelheit darkness
die Dunkelkammer darkroom
dunkeln to darken
das Dunkles dark
dünn thin, slender, slim
der Dunst haze, mist
dünsten to steam, to stew gently
das Duo duo, pair
das Dur major
durch through; entering, then exiting
durch die Prüfung fallen to fail the exam
durchatmen to breathe deeply
durchaus absolutely, fully, entirely
durchblicken to understand
durchbrechen to break through
der Durchbruch breakthrough (sudden progress overcoming an obstacle)
durchdenken to think through, to reflect about, to deliberate
durchdringen to penetrate, permeate
das Durcheinander mess, chaos, tumult
durchfahren to cross while driving, to traverse, to drive through
der Durchfall diarrhea
durchfallen to fail, to not pass (an exam)
durchführen to perform, to conduct (a study, a ceremony, an operation, etc.)
die Durchführung implementation
der Durchgang passage, passageway, corridor, aisle, thoroughfare
durchgängig general, universal
durchgebraten well done (of meat)
durchgeführt implemented, realized, accomplished
durchgehen to go through; to walk through
durchhalten to hang on, persevere
das Durchhaltevermögen stamina, staying power, perseverance
durchkommen to come through, to pass through
durchlaufen to go through, to run through
durchlesen to read through
der Durchmesser diameter
durchnehmen to cover, to go through (material in class)
durchreisen to travel a place (the world, a continent, a country, an area, etc.)
die Durchsage An announcement over loudspeakers or on the radio
durchschauen to see through; detect the truth behind
durchschneiden to cut through
der Durchschnitt average
durchschnittlich average, ordinary, mean, medium
durchsetzen to establish; to enforce; to cause to become prevalent, accepted, or effective
die Durchsetzung enforcement, implementation
durchspielen to play through, to finish a game
durchsuchen to search
die Durchsuchung search, searching
durchtrainiert well-trained, toned
durchweg consistently, without exception
durchziehen to run through, traverse, pervade
der Durchzug draught, draft (A current of air going through a room or a vehicle)
dürfen to be allowed (to do something); to be permitted (to do something); may
die Dürre drought, aridity
der Durst thirst
die Dusche a shower (for bathing)
duschen to shower
düster dark, dim, gloomy, obscure
das Dutzend dozen
duzen to address informally using the pronoun du, to thou
die Dynamik driving force, dynamism
der Dynamo dynamo
die Dynastie dynasty