Saying Body in German? Don’t Confuse These Words

You’ll hear it at the doctor, in sports, in science, or when talking about how you feel: the word for body in German is something you’ll use in dozens of real-world situations. Whether you’re pointing to body parts or talking about wellbeing, this word is essential.

The German word is Körper - pronounced /ˈkœʁpɐ/: stress the first syllable. For short ö, say a short e sound with rounded lips; the unstressed -er is a weak vowel, not English “fur.” It has a solid, rounded sound, much like the concept it describes.

Körper is masculine, so it’s der Körper. The plural is die Körper. If you’re not sure when or why that article changes, you can get a full, easy breakdown in my gender video lesson.

It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German - and is crucial when talking about health, identity, and how you physically experience the world.

Examples in all four cases:

Nominative:Der Körper braucht Schlaf und Bewegung.The body needs sleep and movement.

Accusative:Ich trainiere meinen Körper jeden Tag.I train my body every day.

Dative:Du solltest deinem Körper zuhören.You should listen to your body.

Genitive:Die Funktionen des Körpers sind komplex.The functions of the body are complex.

Real-World Tips for Learners

Körper appears in so many useful phrases and expressions. Some of the most common include:

• Körper und Geist - body and mind

• den Körper stärken - to strengthen the body

• körperliche Arbeit - physical labor

• den eigenen Körper akzeptieren - to accept one’s own body

• die Körpersprache - body language

The plural form Körper also comes up in scientific or formal contexts, like in geometry (ein geometrischer Körper - a solid figure) or physics (mehrere Körper im Raum - multiple bodies in space). You might also see it in compound nouns like Körperpflege (body care), Körpertemperatur, or Körperbau (physique/build). Don’t confuse Körper with die Leiche (a corpse). Der Leib is a more elevated or literary word for body that also appears in everyday fixed phrases, such as mit Leib und Seele (with heart and soul).