21 December 2025
How do you say “to vote” in German?
Main Words to Know
The German word for “to vote” is wählen, which also means “to choose”.
The word for “election”, however, is Wahl (f.) not to be confused with the sound-alike Wal (m.) which means “whale”.
The word for one’s “vote” is Stimme (f.), which also means “voice”. (The English word “vote” itself comes from Latin votum, “vow” or “wish.”)
Examples
Heute findet die Wahl statt. The election is happening today.Du hast die Wahl. You have the choice.Du musst heute wählen. You have to choose/vote today.Ich stimme für den Kandidaten A. I am voting for candidate A.Ich habe meine Stimme abgegeben. I cast my vote.Ich stimme gegen ihn. I am voting against him.Sie hat die Wahl gewonnen/verloren. She won/lost the election.
More Useful Words
“Vote rigging” is Wahlmanipulation (f.) or Wahlbetrug (m.); “vote buying” is Stimmenkauf (m.).
To be “entitled to vote” is wahlberechtigt.
A “dissenting vote” is Gegenstimme. And in German federal elections, every voter has two votes: the Erststimme (for a local candidate) and the Zweitstimme (for a party).
The “right to vote” is das Wahlrecht in the context of elections. Das Stimmrecht means the right to cast a vote, whether in an election, a meeting or a company.
Note: The German word abstimmen is used when people vote on a matter in order to come to a decision or to an agreement:
Wir haben über den Antrag abgestimmt. We have voted on the proposal.
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