You reach for it when it’s cold, you hang it by the door, and you might even lose things in its pockets. If you want to talk about outerwear in everyday situations, you’ll want to know how to say coat in German.
The German word is der Mantel. It’s masculine, and the plural is die Mäntel. If you’re not yet comfortable with articles and gender in German, my gender video lesson makes it much easier to remember and apply.
Mantel is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. It’s useful for everything from shopping and weather chats to figurative language like Schutzmantel (protective cloak).
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:
Der Mantel ist sehr warm.
The coat is very warm.
Accusative:
Ich ziehe den Mantel an.
I’m putting on the coat.
Dative:
Das Kind hilft mir mit dem Mantel.
The child helps me with the coat.
Genitive:
Die Farbe des Mantels gefällt mir.
I like the color of the coat.
Where you’ll hear Mantel:
Wintermantel – winter coat
Regenmantel – raincoat
Trenchcoat – trench coat (same word!)
Manteltasche – coat pocket
unter dem Mantel der Nacht – “under cover of night”
Helping you speak German without overwhelm.
Simple lessons, clear structure, and real progress — without information overload.
Common verbs: tragen (wear), anziehen (put on), ausziehen (take off), verlieren (lose), kaufen (buy)
Adjectives: warm, lang, elegant, gebraucht (used), dick (thick), teuer
Cultural tip: In German-speaking countries, Mantel often implies a longer, more formal coat — compared to Jacke, which typically means jacket or casual outerwear.
Beginner dialogue using Mantel:
A: Ist das dein neuer Mantel?
B: Ja, er war im Angebot!
A: Is that your new coat?
B: Yes, it was on sale!
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Mantel.
“Wie sieht dein Lieblingsmantel aus — und wann trägst du ihn?”
What does your favorite coat look like — and when do you wear it?
Speaking aloud helps lock in both the word and its natural use.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say coat in German — and how der Mantel helps you speak about clothes, weather, and even style.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and dress your vocabulary for every season.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Maschine — and learn how to talk about engines, appliances, and automation.
Or revisit Material — for building, learning, and everyday resources.