How do you say Text in German?

Whether it’s a poem, a WhatsApp message, a news article, or your favorite song lyrics - if it’s written or spoken language, Germans call it a Text. And the best part? It’s practically the same word in English.

The noun Text means text, covering anything composed of words: a written document, a passage, a speech, even the lyrics to a song. It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and you’ll find it everywhere - from classrooms to chat apps.

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

Pronunciation

Text is pronounced [tekst] - yes, just like in English, but with a bit more crispness.

• The “e” is short, like in “get.”

• The ending “-kst” is sharply articulated, with a clean “t.”

It sounds brisk and direct - just like a well-written sentence.

Example sentences:

• Ich habe den Text noch nicht gelesen.I haven’t read the text yet.

• Kannst du mir den Text schicken?Can you send me the text?

Nuance and usage tips

Text is a flexible, neutral term that fits in many contexts:

• In school:einen Text analysieren - to analyze a textTextverständnis - reading comprehension

• In music:Songtext - song lyricsTexte schreiben - to write lyrics or scripts

• In tech and media:Textnachricht - text messageTextverarbeitung - word processing

You’ll also hear Text when someone is quoting or reciting something: