German words starting with M

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

machbar practicable, feasible
machen to make, to produce, to create (an object, arrangement, situation, etc.)
die Machenschaft machination
der Macher mover and shaker
die Macht power, authority
der Machthaber ruler, person in power
mächtig powerful, mighty
der Machtkampf power struggle, struggle for power
machtlos powerless
die Madame madam
das Mädchen girl
die Made maggot (soft, legless larva)
das Mädel girl (especially member of a group of female friends)
die Madeleine madeleine (small cake)
die Mafia mafia, Mafia
das Magazin magazine (periodical)
der Magen stomach, maw
der Magenschmerz stomach ache
die Magie magic
der Magier mage, magician
magisch magical
der Magister magister; an academic degree usually comparable to an M.A. or M.Sc
der Magistrat city council
das Magma magma
das Magnesium magnesium
der Magnet magnet
das Magnetfeld magnetic field
mähen to mow
das Mahl meal, repast
mahlen to grind
die Mahlzeit meal
die Mahngebühr late fee
das Mahnmal A monument that serves as a reminder of a tragic event and a warning that the event should not be allowed to occur again
die Mahnung reminder (esp. a payment reminder)
der Mai May (month)
die Maid maiden, damsel (archaic or poetic)
der Mainstream mainstream
der Mais maize; corn (US)
die Majestät majesty
der Major major
der Makel flaw; blemish
der Makler realtor, real estate agent, estate agent
die Maklergebühr agent's fee
das Makroobjektiv macro lens
mal times (indicating multiplication of two numbers)
das Mal time (as in the first time; many times)
die Malaria malaria
malen to paint (create a painting)
der Maler painter (artist who paints pictures)
die Malerei painting (action or activity)
die Malerin painter (female), paintress (dated)
malle mad, crazy, not quite right, whimsical
das Malz malt
die Mama mum, mummy, mom, mommy
die Mami mom, mum
man one, you, they (indefinite pronoun, referring to people at large; construed as a third-person singular)
das Management management (administration; the process or practice of managing)
managen to manage (a team, a band, etc.)
der Manager manager (male or of unspecified sex, sometimes female)
manch many a; many; some
manchmal sometimes
der Mandant client (of a lawyer)
das Mandat mandate (official command)
die Mandel almond
der Manga manga (comic originating in Japan)
der Mangel lack, shortage (the condition of having an insufficient amount of a resource, or none at all)
mangelhaft defective
mangeln to lack, to be needed [with dative ‘to/for someone/something’] (idiomatically translated by English lack with the dative object as the subject)
mangels for lack of, due to lack of
die Mango mango (fruit)
der Manhattan Manhattan (cocktail)
die Manier manners
das Manifest manifesto
die Manipulation manipulation
manipulieren to manipulate
das Manko shortcoming, deficiency
der Mann man, male human being
Mann gegen Mann man-to-man
das Männchen a male animal or a male plant
die Manndeckung man-to-man defense
männlich male
die Männlichkeit manliness, manhood, masculinity
die Mannschaft crew members of a ship
das Manöver maneuver
der Mantel coat, overcoat (long jacket that covers at least part of the thighs)
das Manual manual (keyboard of an organ etc.)
manuell manual
das Manuskript manuscript
die Mappe folder, file (for papers)
der Marathon marathon
das Märchen fairy tale (folk tale)
die Margarine margarine
Marie Marie (female given name)
das Marihuana marijuana
die Marine navy
die Marionette marionette, puppet (puppet which is animated by the pulling of strings)
die Mark mark (any of various European monetary units)
die Marke mark (like trade mark), brand
das Markenzeichen trademark
das Marketing marketing (promotion, distribution and selling of a product or service)
markieren to mark (indicate)
die Markierung mark, marking, tag
der Markt market (gathering for sale and purchase)
der Marktanteil market share
der Marktführer market leader, brand leader
die Marktkapitalisierung market capitalization; market cap
der Marktplatz marketplace, market square (open area in a town housing a public market)
die Marktwirtschaft market economy (type of economy)
die Marmelade jam
der Marmor marble
der Marquis marquis, marquess (kind of nobleman, chiefly in a French-speaking country)
der Mars crow's nest
der Marsch march
der Marschall marshal; field marshal (highest military rank in some armies)
marschieren to march (to walk with others in a column, in step)
der Martini martini (cocktail)
der Märtyrer martyr
der Marxismus Marxism
die Masche trick, scam, shtick
die Maschine machine
der Maschinenbau engineering, especially mechanical engineering
das Maschinengewehr machine gun
die / der Maser vein (of wood)
die Masern measles
die Maske mask
das Maß measure (standard against which something can be judged)
Maß nehmen to take measurements
die Massage massage
das Massaker massacre
das Maßband tape measure
die Masse mass (quantity of matter)
das Massenmedium mass medium
die Massenproduktion mass production
maßgebend authoritative
maßgeblich applicable, relevant
maßgenau dimensionally accurate, made to size
massieren to massage
mäßig moderate, modest
massiv heavy, massive
maßlos extremely, grossly
die Maßnahme measure (tactic or strategy)
der Maßstab scale (of a drawing)
der Mast mast (of a ship)
der Master master's degree
die Masterarbeit master's thesis
masturbieren to masturbate
der Match match
der Matchball match point
das Material material (matter)
die Materie matter
die Mathe math, maths (short form of mathematics)
die Mathematik mathematics (study)
der Mathematiker mathematician (male or of unspecified gender)
mathematisch mathematical
die Matratze mattress (a pad often of soft cushiony material for sleeping on)
die Matrix matrix
der Matrose seaman; sailor (of low rank) (male or of unspecified gender)
der Matsch mud
matt dull (not shiny)
die Matte mat
die Matura matura (school-leaving exam such as the A level, Abitur etc.)
mau unwell, queasy, poorly, ill
die Mauer a wall, usually one made of stone or concrete
der Mauerbau wall construction
mauern to build a wall, to lay bricks
das Maul mouth of an animal
der Maulwurf mole (small, burrowing insectivore of the family Talpidae)
der Maurer bricklayer, mason (craftsperson who builds in stone; male or unspecified sex)
die Maus mouse (animal)
die Mäuse mice (plural of Maus)
die Maut toll (for a road, tunnel etc.)
maximal maximal
die Maxime maxim
das Maximum maximum
der Maya Maya
die Mayo mayonnaise
die Mayonnaise mayonnaise
die Mechanik mechanics (field of study)
der Mechaniker mechanic, repairman, fitter, mechanician, machinist
mechanisch mechanical
der Mechanismus mechanism
meckern to complain, to grumble
die Medaille medal
die Media media
medial media-related, in the media
das Medikament drug, medicine
die Meditation meditation
das Medium media, medium (format for communicating or presenting information)
die Medizin medicine (healing substance or cure)
der Mediziner doctor, physician (male or of unspecified gender)
medizinisch medical
das Meer sea
der Meeresspiegel sea level (the nominal height of the surface of the oceans above which heights of geographical features and aircraft flight levels are measured)
das Meerschweinchen guinea pig, cavy
das Meerwasser seawater
das Meeting a business meeting; a scheduled formal meeting for a specific purpose or with an agenda
mega awesome, amazing
das Megapixel megapixel
das Mehl flour; meal (ground cereal)
mehr more
mehrere multiple, several; more than one; a number of
mehrfach several, multiple
das Mehrfamilienhaus multifamily house, apartment building
die Mehrheit majority; bulk
mehrheitlich by a majority (of votes)
mehrjährig perennial (lasting several years)
die Mehrkosten additional costs, extra costs
mehrmals several times, repeatedly
der Mehrspielermodus multiplayer mode
die Mehrwegflasche reusable bottle
der Mehrwert value added
die Mehrwertsteuer value added tax (tax levied on added value of an exchange)
die Mehrzahl majority (the larger part of a group)
meiden to avoid, to keep away from
die Meile mile (unit of distance)
der Meilenstein milestone, landmark (an important event)
mein my
meinen to opine, to think; to believe; to suppose
meiner mine (substantival possessive)
meiner Meinung nach in my opinion
meinerseits for my part; on my part; with respect to me
meines Erachtens in my opinion, in my understanding / judgement
meinetwegen because of me; for my sake
die Meinung opinion
die Meinungsfreiheit freedom of opinion
meist mostly, most often, usually
meistens mostly (for the most part)
der Meister master
der Meisterbrief master craftsman's certificate
meistern to master (acquire complete knowledge or skill in art, technique or subject)
die Meisterschaft mastery
das Meisterwerk masterwork, masterpiece (outstanding work, especially of art)
die Melancholie melancholy (a deep, pensive sadness)
die Meldebescheinigung certificate of registered address
melden to report, to inform (about an incident or condition)
die Meldepflicht legal duty to register your address
die Meldung report, notification
die Melodie melody, tune (sequence of notes that makes up a musical phrase)
die Melone melon (plant, fruit)
das Mem meme (in the sense of "unit of [cultural] information"; otherwise Meme)
die Memoiren memoirs
die Menge quantity
die Mensa cafeteria (at a university), student canteen
der Mensch human, human being, person, man
das Menschenbild view of humanity (one's conception of what humans are fundamentally like)
das Menschenleben human life
die Menschenmenge crowd, throng (of people)
das Menschenrecht human right
das Menschenrechte human rights
der Menschenverstand common sense (almost always in der gesunde Menschenverstand)
die Menschenwürde human dignity
die Menschheit humanity, mankind (human beings at large)
menschlich human, manlike
die Menschlichkeit humanity (the condition or quality of being human)
mental mental
die Mentalität mentality, mindset
das Menü set meal, set menu (two or more courses with few choices)
merci thank you
der Merk water parsnip (Sium gen. et spp.)
merken to notice, to sense, to be able to tell (the difference in a situation or state)
das Merkmal feature, characteristic, attribute (important or main item)
der Merkur mercury
merkwürdig strange, odd
messbar measurable
der Messbecher measuring jug
die Messe fair (trade exhibition)
messen to measure (something) (to ascertain a quantity)
das Messer knife
das Messgerät gauge, meter (measuring device)
das Messing brass
die Messlatte measuring pole, yardstick, especially a stationary one (e.g. for measuring body height)
der Messschieber vernier caliper
die Messung measurement, mensuration
der Met mead
der Metal metal (music)
das Metall metal
die Metapher metaphor
das Methan methane
das Methanol methanol
die Methode method (process by which a task is completed)
die Methodik methodology
die Metro metro
die Metropole metropolis; very large city; city which dominates its surroundings due to its population, administrative power or culture(s)
der Metzger butcher (male or of unspecified gender)
die Metzgerei butcher's shop
die Meute a mob of people, especially ones who are agitated or after someone (often of paparazzi and the like)
der Mexikaner Mexican (person)
die Miene expression, face
mies mean, wretched
die Miete rent
mieten to hire, to rent
der Mieter renter
die Mieterhöhung rent increase
die Mietpreisbremse rent cap on new lettings
der Mietvertrag lease agreement
der Mietwagen rental car, hired car
die Migräne migraine
die Migration migration
der Migrationshintergrund migration background (i.e. being a migrant or having one or more parents or grandparents be migrants)
das Mikrofon microphone
der Mikroorganismus microorganism
das Mikroskop microscope
die Mikrowelle microwave, microwave oven
der Milan kite (bird of prey)
die Milch milk (white liquid produced by female mammals for their young to consume)
das Milchprodukt dairy product
mild mild (in all of its common senses)
das Milieu underworld; demimonde; world of crime, drugs, and/or prostitution
das Militär military
der Militärdienst military service
militärisch military
die Miliz militia
der Milliardär billionaire
die Milliarde billion (10^9)
die Million million (10^6)
der Millionär millionaire (male or of unspecified gender)
die Milz spleen
die Mimik facial expressions
die Minderheit minority
die Minderjährige minor (female)
mindest least, minimum, slightest
das Mindestalter minimum age, age limit (lower age limit for being allowed to do something)
mindestens at least (at a lower limit)
das Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum official best-before date printed on packs
der Mindestlohn minimum wage
die Mine a mine
minen to mine, to grave, to dig
das Mineral mineral
das Mineralwasser mineral water, carbonated water
minimal minimal
minimieren to minimize / minimise
das Minimum minimum
der Minister minister (a person who is commissioned by the government for public service)
die Ministerin minister (woman who is commissioned by the government for public service)
das Ministerium ministry
der Ministerpräsident minister-president, prime minister
die Ministerpräsidentin prime minister (female)
minus minus, less
die Minute minute (unit of time; unit of angle)
die Minze mint (genus Mentha)
mischen to mix
die Mischung mix, mixture
die Misere predicament, sorry state, slump
der Missbrauch abuse, cruel treatment (not in the sense of “verbal abuse, insult”)
missbrauchen to abuse (use improperly)
missen to miss; to be without, lack
der Misserfolg failure
das Missgeschick mishap
missglückt unsuccessful, failed
die Misshandlung maltreatment, mistreatment, abuse
die Mission mission (set of tasks)
der Missionar missionary
misslingen to fail; to be unsuccessful
misstrauen to mistrust, to suspect, distrust, have doubts about
misstrauisch distrustful, suspicious
missverständlich ambiguous, easily misunderstood
das Missverständnis misunderstanding, misinterpretation
missverstehen to misunderstand, to misapprehend
der Mist rubbish, garbage, waste
mit with (in the company of, alongside)
mit dem Rad fahren to go by bike
mit dem Zug by train
Mit freundlichen Grüßen Kind regards (formal closing)
die Mitarbeit cooperation, collaboration
mitarbeiten to collaborate, cooperate
der Mitarbeiter employee (person who works, together with others, in a particular business or institution)
das Mitarbeitergespräch performance review meeting
die Mitarbeiterin associate, employee, colleague (female)
mitbekommen to notice, learn, find out (become aware, become informed, come to know)
der Mitbewohner flatmate, cohabitor (person living in the same house, room, apartment etc. as oneself)
mitbringen to bring (along, with), to accompany
der Mitbürger fellow citizen
miteinander with each other
miterleben to also experience; to also be present, alive (alongside others) at the time of
die Mitfahrgelegenheit lift, ride
das Mitgefühl compassion
mitgenommen beleaguered, battered, weary
das Mitglied member
die Mitgliederversammlung general meeting, members' meeting (of a club, association or company)
der Mitgliedsbeitrag membership fee
die Mitgliedschaft membership (fact of being a member)
mithalten to keep up with (stay even or ahead)
die Mithilfe help, assistance
mithin thus, so, accordingly, consequently
mitkommen to come with, to join and come along with (another person)
das Mitleid pity, compassion
die Mitleidenschaft embroilment, involvement (the state or quality of suffering negative consequences caused by someone or something else)
mitmachen to take part, to participate, to join in
der Mitmensch fellow human being, fellow man
mitnehmen to take with; to carry along
mitnichten by no means, not at all
mitreden to join in a conversation
mitschreiben to take notes during a lesson
der Mitschüler schoolmate (person one attends or attended school with)
mitsingen to sing along
mitspielen to play along
der Mitspieler teammate, coplayer
das Mitspracherecht voice, say (right to influence a decision)
der Mitstreiter ally, fellow campaigner, collaborator
der Mittag noon, midday, late morning, early afternoon (time from about 11 a.m. to 2 p.m)
das Mittagessen lunch
mittags at midday
die Mittagspause lunchbreak, lunch hour (A break at work for having lunch, usually at a fixed time around noon and unpaid.)
die Mittagsruhe midday quiet period
die Mittagszeit lunchtime
die Mitte middle
mitteilen to inform about, to tell, to disclose, to impart, to report, to announce
die Mitteilung message (communications: Information which is sent from a source to a receiver)
mittel average, middling
das Mittel medicament, remedy
das Mittelalter the Middle Ages
mittelalterlich medieval
das Mittelfeld midfield
der Mittelfeldspieler midfielder
der Mittelfinger middle finger
mittelfristig medium-term (not immediate, but in the foreseeable future)
die Mittelklasse middle class
der Mittelpunkt centre
mittels by means of
die Mittelschicht middle class
die Mittelschule middle school, junior high school
der Mittelstand the middle class
mitten In the middle
mittendrin right in the middle
die Mitternacht midnight
mittig central, centred
mittlerweile meanwhile, in the meantime
der Mittwoch Wednesday
mittwochs on Wednesdays, every Wednesday
mitunter now and then, occasionally
mitverantwortlich co-responsible; responsible along with others
mitwirken to participate, cooperate
die Mitwirkung participation, involvement, the quality of being involved
der Mixer blender, mixer (kitchen appliance)
der Mob mob (unruly group of people)
das Mobbing bullying
das Möbel piece of furniture
mobil mobile
der Mobilfunk mobile / cellular telephony
mobilisieren to mobilize
die Mobilität mobility
das Mobiltelefon mobile phone (a portable telephone)
möbliert furnished
der Möchtegern a wannabe
Möchten Sie eine Tüte? Would you like a bag?
die Mod mod (modification of a computer game)
die Mode fashion, trend
das Model model
das Modell model
der Moderator moderator (mediator, chairman, web forum administrator)
modern modern
die Moderne modernity
die Modernisierung modernization
das / der Modul module
der Modus mode (predesigned set of states or rules)
mögen to like (something or someone)
möglich possible (what can be done or achieved)
möglicherweise possibly, potentially
die Möglichkeit possibility, likelihood
möglichst as much as possible
der Mohn poppy (Papaver)
die Möhre carrot
moin hi
das Mol mole (unit of amount)
das Molekül molecule
das / der Moll minor (musical key)
der Molly ecstasy, molly, mandy (the drug MDMA)
mom gimme a sec, hold on
der Moment moment
momentan current
die Monarchie monarchy
der Monat month (division of a year, usually one twelfth ≈ 30 days)
monatelang lasting for months, months of
monatlich monthly
das Monatsende end of month, end of the month
der Mönch monk
der Mond moon (a natural satellite that is orbiting its corresponding planet)
das Mondlicht moonlight
der Monitor monitor (display)
das / der Monopol monopoly
das Monster monster
der Montag Monday
der Montagabend Monday evening
die Montage installation, mounting, construction
der Montagmorgen Monday morning
montags on Mondays, every Monday
montieren to mount, to set up
das Moor marsh, mire, bog
das Moos moss
das Moped moped
der Mops pug (dog)
die Moral moral, morality
moralisch moral
der Morbus disease
der Mord murder
morden to commit murder
der Mörder murderer, assassin, assassinator, killer, slayer (male or of unspecified gender)
der Mordfall murder case
die More mora
morgen tomorrow
der Morgen morning (part of the day from dawn to noon)
das Morgengrauen crack of dawn; daybreak; dawn
morgens in the morning, a.m
der Morgenstern morning star (Mercury or Venus)
die Morgenstunde morning hour
der Mormone Mormon
der Mörtel mortar
die Moschee mosque
der Most fruit juice; must (of grapes); new wine
das Motel motel
das Motiv motive
die Motivation motivation (willingness of action especially in behavior)
motivieren to motivate (encourage)
der Motor engine (mechanical device)
die Motorhaube hood, bonnet (UK)
das Motorrad motorcycle
der Motorradfahrer motorcyclist: someone who rides a motorcycle
der Motorsport motorsport
die Motte moth, any nocturnal butterfly
das Motto motto, slogan
das Mountainbike mountain bike
die Möwe gull, seagull
die Mücke mosquito, gnat, midge
müde tired
die Müdigkeit tiredness
der Muffin muffin (individual cake)
die Mühe effort, difficulty
die Mühle mill, grinder (tool or apparatus for grinding)
mühsam arduous
der Mulch mulch
mulchen to mulch
der Müll rubbish, refuse, waste, junk, trash (US), garbage (US)
der Mülleimer rubbish bin; dustbin; trash can (small container for wet rubbish, either indoors or a fixed one outdoors)
der Müller miller
die Mülltonne wheelie bin; garbage can (large container for wet rubbish, usually outdoors and now usually on wheels)
die Mülltrennung waste sorting
das Multimedia multimedia
der Mumm moxie, guts, grit, balls, nerve
der Mund mouth of a person
die Mundart dialect
münden to flow (into something)
mündlich oral, spoken
die Mündung mouth (of a river)
die Munition ammunition, munition
munkeln to rumour/rumor
munter merry, awake, brisk, cheery
die Münze a coin, a metallic piece of currency
das Mus mush, mash (food of a pulpy consistency, chiefly made out of fruit and vegetables)
die Muschel bivalve; seashell (marine mollusk with a shell, or the shell itself)
die Muschi pussy (vulva or vagina)
die Muse A Muse (deity)
das Museum museum (building or institution dedicated to the protection and exhibition of items with scientific, historical, cultural or artistic value)
das Musical a musical
die Musik music
Musik hören to listen to music
musikalisch musical
der Musiker musician
die Musikerin female musician
der Musikgeschmack music taste, taste in music
der Musiklehrer music teacher
die Musikschule music school
das Musikvideo music video
musizieren to make music, play together
der Muskel muscle
der Muskelkater delayed-onset muscle soreness, DOMS
die Muskulatur musculature
muskulös muscular
das Müsli muesli, granola
der Muslim Muslim
müssen to have to (do something); must; to be obliged (to do something); to need (to do something)
der Mustang mustang
das Muster pattern
mustern to scrutinize, to examine, to inspect, to look over, to eye
der Mut courage; bravery
der Mutant mutant (that has undergone genetic mutation)
mutig courageous
mutmaßlich alleged; suspected; presumed
die Mutter mother
das Mutterland motherland
die Muttersprache mother tongue; native language
der Muttertag Mother's Day
die Mutti mom, mummy
die Mütze cap
das My mu (Greek letter)
mysteriös mysterious
das Mysterium mystery, enigma
die Mythologie mythology
der Mythos myth, mythos (narrative of importance to a particular group or culture)