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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.

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

sheet music and recording equipment on the floor next to the feet of several people

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

man sitting at a sound mixing station using words for music in german

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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