Time to get cozy — today’s word is Schlafzimmer, the German word for bedroom. It’s a straightforward compound noun that every beginner should learn early. And since it's one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German (free illustrated ebook included), you’ll see and hear it often.

In German, Schlafzimmer is neuter, so the correct article is das — das Schlafzimmer. If you’re still trying to make sense of when it’s der, die, or das, we’ve got a quick 5-minute video that breaks it all down for you — finally, gender explained without confusion.

Real conversations where Schlafzimmer might come up

This word is used in daily conversations — at home, when moving, renting, buying furniture, or talking about your apartment setup. Germans often count Schlafzimmer separately from other rooms, like Wohnzimmer (living room) or Kinderzimmer (children’s room).

– Wo schläfst du?
– Im Schlafzimmer natürlich. Aber unser Baby schläft noch bei uns.
(“Where do you sleep?” – “In the bedroom of course. But our baby still sleeps with us.”)

Beginner sample dialogue

Max: Wie viele Zimmer hat eure Wohnung?
Lena: Drei. Wohnzimmer, Kinderzimmer und ein Schlafzimmer.
Max: Cool! Habt ihr ein großes Bett?

(Max: How many rooms does your apartment have?
Lena: Three. Living room, children’s room, and a bedroom.
Max: Cool! Do you have a big bed?)

Grammar in action: How to use Schlafzimmer

Let’s take a look at how Schlafzimmer behaves in the four German cases:

• Nominative: Das Schlafzimmer ist gemütlich.
  (The bedroom is cozy.)

• Accusative: Wir renovieren das Schlafzimmer.
  (We’re renovating the bedroom.)

• Dative: Ich schlafe lieber im Schlafzimmer als auf dem Sofa.
  (I prefer sleeping in the bedroom than on the sofa.)

• Genitive: Die Farbe des Schlafzimmers gefällt mir nicht.
  (I don’t like the color of the bedroom.)

Want a quick, friendly explanation of what these cases even are — and how to use them without feeling like you're studying Latin? Check out our super-useful German Grammar video course — it’s all in English and perfect for beginners who want clarity, not complexity.

Other ways to say bedroom in German

While Schlafzimmer is the standard word for “bedroom,” you might also hear more casual terms like Zimmer (room) when the context is clear — for example, „Ich geh ins Zimmer“ might mean someone’s going to their bedroom. In older or poetic language, you might come across Gemach, but that’s long out of everyday use. Stick with Schlafzimmer in 99% of cases.

Word variations and tidbits

Schlafzimmer is a classic German compound noun: Schlaf (sleep) + Zimmer (room). You’ll find this pattern everywhere — like Wohnzimmer (living room), Esszimmer (dining room), and Kinderzimmer (children’s room). These combinations are highly logical, and once you learn the core building blocks, you can often guess the meanings of new words on the fly.

A fun little side note: Germans don’t say “I’m going to bed” with Schlafzimmer — they say „Ich gehe ins Bett“. So Bett means “bed,” while Schlafzimmer is the room itself.

Duden entry:
https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Schlafzimmer

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Do you know what Schlacht means?
What about Rettung? You might be surprised by where these words show up…