When you feel like doing something, or when you're tempted by something forbidden — desire in German is the word that captures both. This one’s surprisingly common and often misunderstood by learners.

The German noun is die Lust. It’s feminine, and the plural form die Lüste exists, but is rarely used outside formal or poetic contexts. If you're unsure about article rules, my gender video lesson makes it quick and easy to learn.

If you're not up for something (i.e. you have no desire at all to do it) then you have "keine Lust"!

Lust is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and while it might sound spicy to English ears, in German it’s used for ordinary things like wanting to go out, eat cake, or watch a movie.

Examples in all four cases:

Nominative:
Die Lust vergeht schnell.
The desire fades quickly.

Accusative:
Ich habe die Lust verloren.
I’ve lost the desire.

Dative:
Mit der Lust kommt die Energie zurück.
With the desire, the energy returns.

Genitive:
Die Stärke der Lust war überraschend.
The strength of the desire was surprising.

Real-World Tips for Learners

Here’s where it gets fun — and a little tricky. Lust is used constantly in the phrase:

• Ich habe Lust auf… – I feel like (doing or having) something

  • Ich habe Lust auf Pizza. – I feel like having pizza.

  • Hast du Lust, ins Kino zu gehen? – Do you feel like going to the cinema?

This is one of the most useful sentence patterns in spoken German. Just remember: you "have" desire in German — it’s haben, not sein.

Learner pitfall: Don’t assume Lust always means something sexual. While it can mean "lust" in the erotic sense (sexuelle Lust), in everyday life it’s more about motivation, interest, or craving. That’s why Germans will casually say Ich habe keine Lust to mean “I don’t feel like it” — totally innocent!

In slightly more dramatic or poetic German, Lust may appear in compound words like:

• Lebenslust – zest for life

• Reiselust – urge to travel

• Genusslust – pleasure in enjoyment

• Wissenslust – thirst for knowledge

Beginner dialogue using Lust:

A: Hast du Lust, spazieren zu gehen?
B: Ja, das klingt gut!
A: Do you feel like going for a walk?
B: Yes, that sounds good!

Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Lust.

“Worauf hast du heute richtig Lust — und warum?”
What are you really in the mood for today — and why?

Don’t overthink it — pizza, sleep, a book, anything works!

Duden entry for “Lust”

German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say desire in German — and how die Lust helps you express what drives you, tempts you, or just sounds fun.

Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and build up your vocabulary one craving at a time.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Magen — and learn how to talk about what’s going on inside.
Or revisit Laune — to describe your emotional ups and downs.