Whether you’re talking about geometry, a small town district, or your friend group, the word circle in German covers more than just round shapes. It’s one of those high-utility words that learners should grab early.
The word is Kreis — pronounced “KRICE” (rhymes with ice, with a crisp K up front).
Kreis is masculine, so it’s der Kreis. The plural is die Kreise. If you’re working on mastering German articles and genders, my gender video lesson is a quick and helpful overview.
Kreis is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it’s useful in school, politics, friendships, and even traffic.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:
Der Kreis ist perfekt gezeichnet.
The circle is perfectly drawn.
Accusative:
Ich habe den Kreis größer gemacht.
I made the circle bigger.
Dative:
Er erklärte es mir in dem Kreis der Familie.
He explained it to me within the family circle.
Genitive:
Die Mitte des Kreises ist markiert.
The center of the circle is marked.
Real-World Tips for Learners
You’ll first meet Kreis in school — it’s the basic word for “circle” in geometry or drawing. But it shows up way beyond math class.
In a social sense, Kreis often refers to a group of people:
Freundeskreis – circle of friends
Bekanntenkreis – circle of acquaintances
engster Kreis – inner circle
In a political or administrative sense, Kreis refers to a region or district. For example:
Landkreis – rural district
Wahlkreis – electoral district
Kreisverwaltung – district administration
You’ll also see Kreisverkehr — the word for a traffic roundabout. If you're driving in Germany, you'll definitely encounter a few of those.
And in a more figurative sense, Kreise ziehen (literally “draw circles”) means something is having an effect — as in Die Nachricht zieht weite Kreise (The news is having widespread effects).
Beginner dialogue using Kreis:
A: Wer war alles in deinem Kreis bei der Party?
B: Nur meine engsten Freunde.
A: Who was in your circle at the party?
B: Just my closest friends.
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Kreis.
“Wie groß ist dein Freundeskreis – und wer gehört dazu?”
How big is your circle of friends, and who’s part of it?
Say your answer out loud in German and be sure to use Kreis in the sentence.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say circle in German — and how der Kreis helps you talk about geometry, districts, and the people around you.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German to keep learning the words that matter most.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Lächeln — and learn how to express warmth, humor, and kindness.
Or revisit Koma — for vocabulary that deepens emotional and medical understanding.