Just seen your German friend perform live on stage and want to tell them their show was “wonderful” in German? You can say wunderbar (wonderful), but why stop there? There are more ways to give praise and express your delight in German.
Learn general and context-specific alternatives to wunderbar, some extra words for “wonderful” in German dialects, plus the right cultural approach to saying “wonderful.”
Table of Contents
| German Term | Pronunciation | English Translation |
| Wunderbar | VOON-dah-bar | wonderful |
| Toll | tohl | great/wow |
| Klasse | KLAH-suh | excellent |
| Fantastisch | fan-TAHSS-tish | fantastic |
| Großartig | GROHS-ar-tikh | great |
| Ausgezeichnet | OWSS-geh-tsoykh-net | distinguished (formal, context-specific) |
| Herrlich | HAIR-lich | lovely (context-specific) |
| Einzigartig | Ayn-tsikh-ar-tikh | unique/matchless (context-specific) |
| Zauberhaft | TSOW-ber-hahft | enchanting (context-specific) |
General praise terms for ‘wonderful’ in German
Let someone know they’ve done a wonderful job or praise a particularly delicious meal with one of these options. Regardless of the context, these German adjectives that mean “wonderful” in German will work well. These are the most common terms for giving praise you’re likely to hear in daily conversation.
1. Wunderbar (wonderful)
The direct translation for “wonderful” in German is wunderbar, meaning something that causes wonder, astonishment, or admiration. It is used with the same complementary intentions in German as it is in English.
To sound more like a native German when you say this term, pronounce it like you would “voonderbahr,” with softer “r” sounds. As always, when giving praise in German, be sure to limit the usage of this term to truly top-class experiences to avoid coming across ironically.
2. Toll (great/wow)
You can use the term toll (great/wow) as either another term for positive commendation or as an interjection. It has a practical level of versatility, since you can use it in a normal sentence where you’d normally drop “great” or “wonderful” in German.
- Das war echt toll! = That was really great!
Otherwise, you can place this term just about anywhere in a sentence to show your approval:
- Toll, deine Musik war unglaublich. = Wow, your music was incredible.
3. Klasse (excellent)
Informal without being overly slangy, klasse (excellent) shows up in daily German speech and you won’t have to worry about it coming across as overly optimistic as other German terms for “wonderful.”
You’re likely to hear it in more casual conversation, such as amongst friends, between familiar coworkers, or as a positive response to everyday actions. Be careful not to mix it up with the German term for “class,” which is also Klasse.
An easy way to tell the difference is if the term is capitalized in the middle of the sentence. If so, then you’re likely dealing with the German word for “class” instead of an alternative to wunderbar (wonderful).
- Klasse gemacht! = Excellent job!
- Das klingt klasse. = That sounds excellent.
4. Fantastisch (fantastic)
Fantastisch (fantastic) carries a more elevated tone to its usage, giving a particularly high level of praise, especially for a German! It works best when used as a way to highlight your excitement or amazement at something. Think of it like a more expressive alternative term in German for “wonderful.”
5. Großartig (great)
The strong and enthusiastic term Großartig, which means “great” in German, is a solid choice for slightly formal occasions.
You might not use it at the Saturday night hangout with buddies, but you could certainly choose this word while complimenting someone’s work or commenting on the scale of some large project. The tone here is strong and positive, but doesn’t quite carry the exaggerated feel of other terms like fantastisch might elicit.
Context-specific ways to ‘wonderful’
These terms for “wonderful” require a specific situation or intent in order to be used correctly. While they’re not the best for general use, they can show a native level of understanding when it comes to giving the right praise at the right time.
6. Ausgezeichnet (distinguished)
“Formal” is an apt description for the German word ausgezeichnet (distinguished). This is a slightly old-fashioned term still in common usage in German conversation that most often appears in written correspondence, rather than everyday speech.
Typically, you’ll see the word ausgezeichnet in reference to more formal reviews, like a boss assessing an employee’s work over a year, or a famous critic writing about a new movie that just hit the theaters.
7. Herrlich (lovely)
Savoring a sensory or experiential delight, especially in reference to food, pleasant weather, or a relaxing moment, is the heart of herrlich (lovely).
This term is less energetic, and you wouldn’t use it to describe a dynamic, lively rock concert, but it’s the right choice for an afternoon in spring spent sipping your favorite tea while discussing your day with your best friend. Herrlich is more about the appreciation of a peaceful experience.
8. Einzigartig (unique/matchless)
When you not only want to compliment something, but point out how unique it is, choose einzigartig (unique/matchless) as a substitute for wunderbar (wonderful).
Individuality and distinctiveness are the accentuated themes with this term. You’re saying that not only is the thing or event “wonderful,” you’re also saying it’s one of a kind.
9. Zauberhaft (enchanting)
Zauberhaft, which means “enchanting” in English, carries a softer, more emotional message in its use. You could also think of zauberhaft to mean “charming.”
You’re likely to hear this term in more tender, romantic contexts, or as an affectionate response to a particularly welcoming environment. One might refer to reading an old book in a cozy, magical book store on the corner as zauberhaft.
More ways to say ‘wonderful’ in different German dialects
Did you know there are around 250 German dialects within German-speaking countries? Make sure you know how to praise the best moments in German, regardless of your location.
| German Term | Pronunciation | English Translation | German Dialect |
| Fei guad | fye gwahd | really good | Bavarian |
| fein | fine | nice/wonderful | North/West German |
| leiwand | LYE-vant | fantastic | Austrian |
| mega guet | MAY-gah GOO-et | super good | Swiss German |
| sauguad | ZOW-goot | awesome | Bavarian |
| tiptop | TIP-top | top-notch | Southern German |
| töfte | TUHF-tuh | great | Northern German |
How Germans give praise
Generally speaking, Germans tend to be direct communicators who are more reserved in dolling out praise than the average American. When using terms that mean “very good” in German, you should attempt to mimic this reservation whenever possible.
Being too forward with compliments can be seen as overly nice or even sarcastic in tone, which would give the exact opposite impression of your intended message. In short: reserve your wunderbar (wonderful) for things, occasions, and experiences you feel especially stand out, and not just for the average street food you’ve wolfed down on the way to work.
Find the perfect word for every wonderful moment
There are more German words than just wunderbar (wonderful) to verbally illustrate the finest moments and experiences in life. Rosetta Stone empowers you to be able to pick the perfect word for the moment while you learn German. Exercising these varied terms lets you be precise and sound natural in conversation, rather than leaving you sounding one-dimensional.
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