21 December 2025
How do you say door in German?
It’s what opens to let you in - or closes to keep you out. In German, it’s die Tür. This is your German Word of the Day, and it’s one of the first nouns any learner picks up, not just because it’s common, but because it’s everywhere - literally.
The noun Tür means door, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. Whether you’re at home, on the bus, or in a fairy tale, die Tür is never far away.
It’s a feminine noun, so we say die Tür (tired of guessing gender? Our video lesson helps you master it quickly and confidently).
Pronunciation
Tür is pronounced [tü:r]
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The ü is long: say a steady “ee” while rounding your lips
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The final r is often vocalized after the long ü; some speakers pronounce a consonantal r.
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One syllable with a long ü: TÜHR
Example sentences
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Mach bitte die Tür zu.Please close the door.
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Die Tür war offen.The door was open.
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Hinter der Tür war es ganz still.Behind the door, it was completely quiet.
Nuance and usage tips
Tür can be literal or metaphorical, and it shows up in many fixed expressions.
Types of doors:
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Haustür - front door
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Zimmertür - room door
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Autotür - car door
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Hintertür - back door
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Doppeltür - double door
Figurative uses:
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offene Türen einrennen - to preach to the choir (literally: to burst into open doors)
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jemandem die Tür weisen - to show someone the door
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Tür und Tor öffnen für … - to open the door/gate to something (figuratively)
vor der Tür stehen - to be just around the corner (Weihnachten steht vor der Tür)
mit der Tür ins Haus fallen - to blurt something out
How does this word come up in real conversations?
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“Kannst du bitte die Tür zumachen?”Can you close the door, please?
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“Die Tür klemmt.”The door is stuck.
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“Hast du gehört, wie die Tür zugeknallt ist?”Did you hear how the door slammed shut?
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Mara: Warum ist die Tür offen?Leo: Ich habe den Hund rausgelassen.Mara: Aber es zieht jetzt im ganzen Haus!Leo: Ups… ich mach sie gleich zu.
Translation:Mara: Why is the door open?Leo: I let the dog out.Mara: But now there’s a draft in the whole house!Leo: Oops… I’ll close it right away.
Grammatical case examples
Nominative:Die Tür ist offen.The door is open.
Accusative:Er hat die Tür zugeschlagen.He slammed the door.
Dative:Ich stehe an der Tür.I’m standing at the door.
Genitive:Der Griff der Tür ist locker.The door handle is loose.
Word variations and language tidbits
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Türgriff - door handle
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Türklinke - door handle (the lever type)
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Türschloss - door lock
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Türspalt - narrow gap at a partly open door
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Türsteher - bouncer (literally: “door stander”)
🚪 Fun fact: In many German buildings, doors automatically close with a hinge arm mechanism called a Türschließer - and letting a door slam is considered pretty rude!
📘 Duden entry: https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Tuer🎥 Ready to open the door to smoother German? Our free video course teaches the top 1000 nouns with examples, visuals, and grammar tips that stick.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?Do you know what Typen means? Some strange ones might be knocking at your Tür.And what about Tunnel? You’ll be glad there’s a Tür if you’re stuck in one.
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