How do you say Hint or Tip in German?

When someone drops a helpful clue, a subtle suggestion, or a not-so-subtle warning, German speakers call it a Hinweis. It’s the word behind signs, footnotes, tips from friends, and even anonymous police leads. Whether it’s useful or ominous depends entirely on the tone - let’s find out how to say hint or tip in German.

The noun Hinweis means hint, tip, indication, or piece of information - usually something that points your attention to something else. It’s used in everyday life, journalism, public signage, and police investigations. And yes, it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, so you’ll definitely run into it often.

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

Pronunciation

Hinweis is pronounced [HIN-vyse].

• “Hin” is short and snappy, like “hint” without the “t.”
• “weis” begins with v and has the eye diphthong followed by a sharp s: roughly “vice.”

The whole word sounds like someone pointing something out - brief, purposeful, and a bit serious.

Example sentences:

• Der Lehrer gab einen Hinweis zur Lösung der Aufgabe.The teacher gave a hint for solving the exercise.
• Die Polizei bittet um Hinweise aus der Bevölkerung.The police are asking for information from the public.

Nuance and usage tips

Hinweis is a helpful, neutral word - but the tone depends on context. It might be:

• A friendly pointer:Ein kleiner Hinweis für das nächste Mal… - “Just a little tip for next time…”
• A warning:Hinweis: Dieser Film ist erst ab 16 Jahren freigegeben. - “Note: This film is rated 16+.”
• A clue in a crime:Ein entscheidender Hinweis führte zur Festnahme. - “A crucial tip led to the arrest.”

It can also refer to a written or printed note, especially on packaging or documents: