21 December 2025
How to Say Team in German and Feel United
Whether you’re cheering for your favorite soccer club, talking about workplace cooperation, or recalling your military service, you’ll need to know how to say team in German. It’s a word that appears in both structured and social situations - and it carries a bit of cultural weight too.
The word is die Mannschaft. It’s feminine, and the plural is die Mannschaften. If you’re still getting the hang of genders, my gender video lesson can help make it easier to remember which article goes where.
Mannschaft is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it’s especially common in sports, the military, and news reporting.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:Die Mannschaft hat das Spiel gewonnen.The team won the game.
Accusative:Ich unterstütze die Mannschaft aus Köln.I support the team from Cologne.
Dative:Mit der Mannschaft ist alles möglich.With the team, anything is possible.
Genitive:Die Taktik der Mannschaft war clever.The team’s strategy was clever.
Real-World Tips for Learners
Mannschaft is the classic German word for “team,” especially in sports or structured groups. You’ll hear it constantly during World Cup coverage, Bundesliga commentary, and Olympic broadcasts:
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Fußballmannschaft - soccer team
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Nationalmannschaft - national team
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Mannschaftskapitän - team captain
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die gegnerische Mannschaft - the opposing team
But the word also shows up in military and naval contexts:
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die Besatzung eines U-Boots kann Mannschaft genannt werden
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die Mannschaftsstärke - team size / personnel strength
Mannschaft can refer to women’s, men’s or mixed teams. Das Team is another normal German word for a team, including in sports. For a team of coworkers, das Team is usually the straightforward
choice; Mannschaft is especially associated with sports or crews.
Beginner dialogue using Mannschaft:
A: Welche Mannschaft findest du am besten?B: Natürlich die deutsche Nationalmannschaft!A: Which team do you like best?B: Of course the German national team!
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Mannschaft.
“Warst du schon mal Teil einer Mannschaft - im Sport oder bei der Arbeit?”Have you ever been part of a team - in sports or at work?
Answer the question out loud in German, using the word Mannschaft.
German Word of the DayNow you know how to say team in German - and how die Mannschaft helps you talk about group identity, effort, and pride.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and keep your language skills playing at full strength.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?Check out Maske - and learn how to talk about protection, celebration, and emotion.Or revisit Last - and see how to express pressure, weight, and obligation.
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