How do you say Treasure in German?

Today’s word is loaded - both emotionally and literally. The German word Schatz means treasure, but it’s also one of the most common terms of endearment, like darling or sweetheart. Germans use it to refer to gold in fairy tales, a good financial find, or their beloved partner. Sometimes all three. It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, too!

Schatz is a masculine noun, so the correct article is der - der Schatz. If remembering gender still feels random, give our 5-minute gender video a try - it clears things up quickly so you don’t have to keep guessing.

Real conversations where Schatz might come up

Schatz is everywhere in German. Couples call each other Schatz in daily conversation (it’s the German equivalent of “honey” or “babe”), and parents use it with kids. But it’s also used in literal contexts, like treasure hunts or historical discoveries.

- Schatz, wo hast du meinen Schlüssel hingelegt?- Ich? Gar nichts gemacht. Frag das Kind.(“Honey, where did you put my keys?” - “Me? I didn’t do anything. Ask the kid.”)

Beginner sample dialogue

Paul: Ich hab dir Schokolade mitgebracht.Lea: Oh, danke, Schatz!Paul: Nur das Beste für dich.

(Paul: I brought you some chocolate.Lea: Oh, thanks, sweetheart!Paul: Only the best for you.)

Grammar in action: How to use Schatz

Let’s see how Schatz behaves across the four German cases:

• Nominative: Der Schatz ist unbezahlbar.(The treasure is priceless.)

• Accusative: Ich liebe meinen Schatz.(I love my sweetheart.)

• Dative: Ich helfe meinem Schatz beim Kochen.(I’m helping my darling cook.)

• Genitive: Die Träume meines Schatzes sind süß.(My sweetheart’s dreams are sweet.)

Want to finally stop getting cases wrong? Our quick and clear grammar course explains it all in plain English - perfect for anyone who wants to stop memorizing and start understanding.