How do you say apartment in German?

Whether it’s a cozy studio, a high-rise unit, or a spacious city apartment - Germans call it a Wohnung. It usually means an apartment, but can also refer more broadly to someone’s dwelling.

The noun Wohnung means apartment, flat, or dwelling, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. You’ll hear it in real estate ads, moving conversations, and any discussion about housing.

It’s a feminine noun, so we say die Wohnung.

Pronunciation

Wohnung is pronounced approximately [VOH-nung], with steady long o and short u.

• W is pronounced like a V,
• ohn has a steady long o followed by n, without the glide in American “bone,”
• ung has a short u as in “put” and ng as in ”sing,”
• Stress is on the first syllable: VOH-nung

It’s smooth and full - just like a nicely furnished apartment.

Example sentences:

• Meine Wohnung ist klein, aber sehr gemütlich.My apartment is small, but very cozy.
• Wir suchen eine neue Wohnung in Berlin.We’re looking for a new apartment in Berlin.

Nuance and usage tips

Wohnung comes from the verb wohnen (to live, reside), plus the feminine ending -ung, which often indicates a thing or concept related to a verb.

It’s used mainly for apartments, not for whole houses.

1. Types of apartments
   • Einzimmerwohnung - one-room apartment / studio
   • Dachgeschosswohnung - attic apartment
   • Altbauwohnung - pre-war / historic apartment (often with high ceilings)
   • WG-Wohnung - shared apartment (WG = Wohngemeinschaft)
     WG-Zimmer - room in a shared apartment
2. Contextual uses
   • Wohnung kündigen - to give notice on an apartment
   • Wohnungsbesichtigung - apartment viewing
   • Wohnungsnot - housing shortage

Related words: Obdachlosigkeit means homelessness and Haus means house. Haus is not an antonym of Wohnung.