Music in German: 145 Vocabulary Words To Talk About Your Passion

As you work to build your fluency, make German easy to learn by learning words about your passions such as music in German. The German word for “music” is Musik or die Musik. Classical music has been a central part of Germany’s culture for countless years, so learning music vocabulary is a wise idea. If you want to set up a home studio, play in a band, or discuss your favorite genre of music with a German-speaking pen pal, then understanding the terms around which music is built will help you talk about your passion that much more.

Table of Contents

• The importance of music in German culture and history
• Names of musical instruments in German
• Terms for vocal music in German
• What Germans call different music genres
• What’s your role? German names for different musicians
• Learn the musical dynamics in German
• German music words for essential music studio equipment

The importance of music in German culture and history

From the late 11th century through the Renaissance (and even into the modern day), music has been created and cultivated by German composers and musicians in German-speaking countries. Many periods of time in Germany are even defined by the type of music played during them. The Baroque era, for example, is closely tied to the intricate Musikstücke (musical pieces) composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, a famous German composer.

Today, music continues to be a vibrant center point of German culture, though the most popular genres have certainly shifted with the years. While a deep respect for the classical music of yesteryear remains, rock and pop (like Rammstein, Nena, and the Scorpions) are the most popular genres of music in modern Germany. 

Many tickets to such shows are even subsidized by the German government, allowing the public to appreciate German culture at a more affordable price. This shows how important music is to the German people and their culture.

While most major German cities have opera houses, Vienna, Austria is an ideal destination for classical music lovers. You can catch a live performance of Mozart or Beethoven’s greatest works at the Musikverein or the Wien Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera) where the gorgeous decor and exceptional performances can bring these famous pieces of music to life.

Names of musical instruments in German

Did you know that several Musikinstrumente (musical instruments), such as the piano, clarinet, and glockenspiel, were invented in Germany? Knowing what to call a piano in German or a violin in German shows your appreciation for their history as you work on your own great compositions. 

Here is a chart showing the German names of popular instruments, along with their pronunciations and English translations. Consider reviewing the pronunciation of German umlauts and the German alphabet if some of these terms feel tricky to say out loud.

German	Pronunciation	English Translation
das Akkordeon	ac-COR-dee-ON	accordion
das Becken	BEC-in	cymbals
die Blasinstumente	BLAHZ-in-stroo-MEN-tin	wind instruments
die Bratsche	BRAHT-shuh	viola
das Cello	CHEL-oh	cello
die E-Gitarre	EE gee-TAR-uh	electric guitar
das Englischhorn	ANG-lish-HORN	English horn
das Fagott	fah-GOH	bassoon
die Flöte	FLOEH-tuh	flute
die Geige	GEI-guh	violin
die Gitarre	GEE-tar-uh	guitar
die Glockenschläge	GLOC-in-SHLAE-guh	chimes
das Glockenspiel	GLOC-in-shpeel	glockenspiel
die Harfe	HAR-fuh	harp
die Holzblasinstrumente	HOLTS- BLAHZ-in-stroo-MEN-tin	woodwind instruments
die Klarinette	CLAHR-in-et-uh	clarinet
das Klavier	KLAH-VEER	piano
das Keyboard	KEE-bord	keyboard
die Laute	LOW-tuh	lute
die Leinentrommel	LEI-nen-TROHM-mel	snare drum
die Mundharmonika	MUHND-har-MON-ica	harmonica
die Oboe	OH-BOE	oboe
die Orgel	OHR-gehl	organ
die Panflöte	PAHN-floeh-tuh	pan flute
die Piccoloflöte	PIC-oloh-floeh-tuh	piccolo
die Posaune	poh-SOW-nuh	trombone
die Saiteninstrumente	ZEI-TEN-in-stroom-EN-TUH	string instruments
das Saxophon	SAHX-oh-fohn	saxophone
das Schlagzeug	SHLAC-tsoig	drum set
die Trompete	TROHM-pet-uh	trumpet
die Tuba	TOO-buh	tuba
das Violoncello	VEE-OH-lon-CHEL-oh	violoncello
das Waldhorn	VALD-horn	French horn
die Ziehflöte	TSEE-floeh-tuh	slide whistle

Terms for vocal music in German

Speaking of musical instruments in German, there’s one you always carry with you—your voice! It’s critical when joining a German-speaking choir or discussing music with German vocalists that you know how to describe your own vocal range or that of others. Are you an Alt (alto), a Bariton (baritone), or something else entirely? Now you’ll be able to talk to others about it!

Refer to this chart to see what Germans call vocal ranges, along with a handy pronunciation guide and their English translations to help you learn the words for music in German.

German	Pronunciation	English Translation
Alt	AHLT	alto
Bariton	BAHR-i-tohn	baritone
Bass	BAHS	bass
Gesang	geh-SAHNG	vocals
Contratenor	CON-trah-ten-OR	counter tenor
hohe	ho-huh	high voice
Mezzosopran	MEHZ-oh-so-PRAHN	mezza soprano
mittlere	MIT-ler-uh	medium voice
Sopran	soh-PRAHN	soprano
Stimme	SHTIM-uh	voice
Tenor	TEN-or	tenor
tiefe	TEEF-uh	low voice

What Germans call different music genres

Rock, pop, and the golden oldies are the most popular genres of music in Germany—what’s your favorite? Since most of the genres of music you’ll see below were invented outside of Germany, many of them are loanwords or German cognates, meaning they look and sound just like their English counterparts.

Take a look at the chart below and find the word for your favorite music genre in German alongside its pronunciation and English translation.

German	Pronunciation	English Translation
Alternative	al-TER-na-teef	alternative
Blues	BLOOZ	blues
Elektro	eh-LEK-tro	electronic
Funk	FUNKq	funk
Gospel	GOS-pel	gospel
Heavy Metal	HEH-vee MEH-tal	heavy metal
Hip-Hop	HIP-hop	hip-hop
House	HOWS	house
Indie	IN-dee	indie
Jazz	JAZZ	jazz
Klassik	KLAH-sik	classical
Liedermacher	LEE-der-mah-kher	singer-songwriter
Metal	MEH-tal	metal
Neue Deutsche Welle	NOY-eh DOY-tshe VEH-le	new German wave
Pop	POP	pop
Punk	PUHNK	punk
Rap	REP	rap
Reggae	REH-geh	reggae
Rock	ROK	rock
Schlager	SHLAH-ger	German pop ballads
Soul	SOHL	soul
Techno	TEK-no	techno
Trance	TRAHNS	trance
Volksmusik	FOLKS-moo-zeek	folk music
Weltmusik	VELT-moo-zeek	world music

What’s your role? German names for different musicians

If you make music, then you also have a role in music vocabulary in German! Keep in mind that the German language has special words for males and females for each role per German gender rules, so be mindful as you select which term to say to avoid offense. It’s as easy to remember the difference in male and female terms as it is to know the months of the year in German. For female roles, you simply add an -in to the end of the male term!

This chart shows what different musicians and band roles are called in the German language and lets you know how to pronounce them:

German (Masculine/Feminine)	Pronunciation	English Translation
Arrangeur/Arrangeurin	a-rahn-ZHUHR	arranger
Bandmitgleid	BAND-mit-GLEID	band member
Bassist/Bassistin	bah-SIST	bassist
Bühnenarbeiter/Bühnenarbeiterin	BOOH-nen-AR-bite-er	stage worker
Cellist/Cellistin	cheh-LEEST	cellist
Chorsänger/Chorsängerin	KOHR-ZENG-er	choir singer
Dirigent/Dirigentin	dee-ree-GENT	conductor
Geiger/Geigerin	GEI-ger	violinist
Gitarrist/Gitarristin	gee-tar-REEST	guitarist
Keyboarder/Keyboarderin	KEE-BORD-er	keyboardist
Klavierspieler/Klavierspielerin	klah-VEER-SHPEE-ler	pianist
Komponist/Komponistin	kom-po-NEEST	composer
Leadgitarrist/Leadgitarristin	LEED-gee-tar-REEST	lead guitarist
Liedermacher/Liedermacherin	LEE-der-makh-er	song writer
Multinstrumentalist/Multinstrumentalistin	MOOL-tee-in-stru-men-ta-LEEST	multi-instrumentalist
Musiker/Musikerin	MOO-zee-ker	musician
Musiklehrer/Musiklehrerin	moo-ZEEK-kay-rer	music teacher
Musikproduzent/Musikproduzentin	moo-ZEEK-proh-DOOTS-ent	music producer
Rapper/Rapperin	REP-per	rapper
Rhythmusgitarrist/Rhythmusgitarristin	RITH-mus-gee-tar-REEST	rhythm guitarist
Roadie	ROH-dee	roadie
Sänger/Sängerin	ZENG-er	singer
Schlagzeuger/Schlagzeugerin	SHLAG-tsoi-ger	drummer
Solist/Solistin	zo-LEEST	soloist
Tontechniker/Tontechnikerin	TONE-tekh-ni-ker	sound technician

Learn the musical dynamics in German

When you’re struggling to remember the right term or German phrase to describe how a piece of music should sound, refer back to this chart for a handy reference. Though many classically trained German musicians know the international Italian terms for dynamics, like forte (loud) and piano (soft), there are German equivalents that are often used as well. 

So, if you enjoy discussing music theory in German, it would be beneficial for you to know both terms. Then when you listen to a Symphonie (symphony) played by an Orchester (orchestra), you’ll know exactly what dynamics the Komponist (composer) used.

See the following chart for the German words for musical dynamics and learn how to pronounce them properly:

German	Pronunciation	English Translation
allmählich lauter werden	al-MAY-likh LOUT-er VAIR-den	gradually getting louder (crescendo)
allmählich leiser werden	al-MAY-likh LYE-zer VAIR-den	gradually getting softer (decrescendo)
anschwellend	AHNSH-vel-land	swelling/increasing
ausdrucksvoll	OWS-drooks-foll	expressive (espressivo)
betont	beh-TOHNT	marked (marcato)
ganz leise	GAHNTS LYE-zuh	completely quiet/barely audible
gedämpft	guh-DEHMPFT	muted (con sordino)
heftig	HEF-tikh	intense (agitato)
laut	LOUT	loud (forte)
leise	LYE-zuh	soft (piano)
markiert	mar-KEERT	marked/distinct
mäßig laut	MEH-sikh LOUT	moderately loud (mezzo forte)
mäßig leise	MEH-sikh LYE-zuh	moderately soft (mezzo piano)
mit Nachdruck	mit NAHKH-druk	with emphasis (con forza)
nachlassend	NAKH-lass-end	fading away (calando)
ohne Dämpfer	OH-neh DEHMPF-er	without mute (senza sordino)
plötzlich	PLUHTS-likh	suddenly (subito)
plötzlich laut	PLUHTS-likh LOUT	suddenly loud (sforzando)
ruhig	ROO-ikh	calm (tranquillo)
sehr laut	ZAYR LOUT	very loud (fortissimo)
sehr leise	ZAYR LYE-zuh	very soft (pianissimo)
stufenweise leiser	SHTOO-fen-vy-ze LYE-zer	stepwise softer (perdendosi)
verklingend	fer-KLING-end	dying away/fading
verstärkend	fer-SHTAIRK-end	strengthening (rinforzando)
zart	TSAHRT	delicate (dolce)

German music words for essential music studio equipment

Modern musicians often find it impossible to properly take part in their musical profession or hobby without the aid of modern technology and equipment. Feeling comfortable talking about a music studio setup or communicating how a piece of equipment needs to be adjusted requires the knowledge of what the gear around you is called.

Take a look at the following chart to learn the names of common music studio equipment in German and their correct pronunciation:

German	Pronunciation	English Translation
die Akustikplatte	ah-KOOS-tik-plat-te	acoustic panel
das Audioaufnahmegerät	OW-dee-oh-OWF-nah-meh-ge-RAYT	audio recorder
das Audiointerface	OW-dee-oh-IN-ter-fays	audio interface
die Aufnahmekabine	OWF-nah-meh-kah-BEE-neh	vocal booth
der Diffusor	diff-OO-zor	diffusor
der Equalizer	EE-kwa-lie-zer	equalizer
das Kabel	KAH-bel	cable
der Kompressor	kom-PRESS-or	compresser
der Kopfhörer	KOPF-huh-rer	headphones
der Kopfhörerverstärker	KOPF-huh-rer-fer-SHTAIRK-er	headphone amp
der Lautsprecher	LOWT-shpreh-kher	speaker
das Mikrofon	MEE-kroh-fohn	microphone
der Mikrofonständer	mee-kroh-FOHN-shten-der	microphone stand
das Mischpult	MISH-poolt	mixing board
der Pegelanzeiger	PAY-gel-ahn-TSYE-gerr	level meter
der Popschutz	POP-shoots	pop filter
die Raumakustik	ROWM-ah-KOOS-tik	room acoustics
das Reflexionsfilter	reh-FLEK-tsee-ohns-fil-ter	reflection filter
die Schalldämmung	SHAL-dem-oong	soundproofing
das Stativ	shtah-TEEF	stand/tripod
die Studiomonitore	SHTOO-dee-oh-moh-nee-toh-re	studio monitors
der Subwoofer	SUB-woo-fer	subwoofer
der Verstärker	fer-SHTAIRK-er	amplifier
der Vorverstärker	FOR-fer-SHTAIRK-er	preamp

Germany’s musical legacy continues to shape and inspire musicians and language scholars alike. Learning practical terms that fit with your passions is an excellent way to learn German and expand your vocabulary in an engaging manner. Look for other opportunities to spice up your German studies with exciting topics like with Rosetta Stone’s dynamic immersion method. It helps find the learning style that fits you best and connects you with interesting and modern themes.

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