How do you say Doubt in German?

When you’re not quite sure, when you’re torn between options, or when your inner voice won’t let something go - Germans call that Zweifel. It’s the word for hesitation, second-guessing, and that uncomfortable space between certainty and suspicion.

The noun Zweifel means doubt, and it’s used in emotional, intellectual, legal, and religious contexts alike. It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, making it a core word for talking about uncertainty in all its forms.

It’s a masculine noun, so we say der Zweifel.

Pronunciation

Zweifel is pronounced [ˈtsvaɪ̯fl̩], roughly "TSVY-fl"; a lightly pronounced schwa before the final l is also possible.

• The “Zw” makes a “tsv” sound - sharp and quick.

• The “ei” is like “eye,” and

• The “fel” is a soft, unstressed “fl.”

It’s a jagged-sounding word, almost like a stutter - very fitting for a concept that disrupts clear thinking.

Example sentences:

• Ich habe große Zweifel an seiner Geschichte.I have serious doubts about his story.

• Ohne jeden Zweifel war sie die Beste.Without any doubt, she was the best.

Nuance and usage tips

Zweifel occurs in both singular and plural: der Zweifel / die Zweifel. The noun has the same spelling in both, but articles and agreement distinguish them; große Zweifel is plural.

Common expressions include:

• Zweifel haben an + Dative - to have doubts about something

• im Zweifel sein - to be in doubt

• ohne Zweifel - without a doubt

• im Zweifelsfall - in case of doubt / when in doubt

The verb zweifeln (“to doubt”) pairs with an + Dative: