The German word for blessing is der Segen.
It’s used in religious rituals, expressions of good wishes, and even in everyday speech to describe good fortune. Whether you’re receiving divine favor or just catching a lucky break, Segen in German is the word for it.

It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German (you can download the full list as a free illustrated PDF) and is especially common in cultural, religious, and emotional contexts.

Gender and Pronunciation

It’s a masculine noun: der Segen.
Want help locking in noun genders for good? This video lesson shows you how to spot reliable patterns.

Pronunciation:
Segen is pronounced [ZAY-gen]

• “ZAY” rhymes with “day”

• “gen” like “again” without the "uh"
  Two syllables: ZAY-gen

Example sentences

Er bat um Gottes Segen.

He asked for God’s blessing.

Kinder sind ein Segen.

Children are a blessing.

Das neue Gesetz ist ein Segen für viele Familien.

The new law is a blessing for many families.

Nuance and usage tips

🙏 Segen is commonly used in religious contexts—as in den Segen geben (to give a blessing), often in churches, weddings, or prayers.

🍀 It’s also used to describe good fortune or a positive development, like ein echter Segen für die Umwelt (a real blessing for the environment).

💍 When parents or religious figures “give their blessing” for a relationship or decision, it’s den Segen geben—a phrase loaded with approval and tradition.

😅 Ironically, Segen can also be used sarcastically when something is technically helpful but creates more work: Die Technik ist ein Segen… und ein Fluch. (“Technology is a blessing… and a curse.”)

How does this word come up in real conversations?

"Ich hoffe, du hast den Segen deiner Eltern."

I hope you have your parents’ blessing.

"Dieser Job war wirklich ein Segen für uns."

This job was truly a blessing for us.

"Der Pfarrer sprach den Segen zum Abschluss."

The pastor gave the blessing at the end.

Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)

Anna: Haben deine Eltern der Hochzeit zugestimmt?
Luis: Ja, sie haben uns ihren Segen gegeben.
Anna: Das freut mich.
Luis: Jetzt fehlt nur noch der Segen von oben!

Translation:
Anna: Did your parents approve the wedding?
Luis: Yes, they gave us their blessing.
Anna: I’m happy to hear that.
Luis: Now we just need the blessing from above!

Grammatical case examples

Nominative:
Der Segen war sehr emotional.

The blessing was very emotional.

Accusative:
Wir bitten um den Segen für unser neues Zuhause.

We ask for the blessing for our new home.

Dative:
Mit dem Segen ihrer Familie ging sie nach Kanada.

With her family’s blessing, she moved to Canada.

Genitive:
Der Klang des Segens hallte durch die Kirche.

The sound of the blessing echoed through the church.

Other ways to say blessing in German

While Segen is the main word for blessing in German, some alternatives appear in specific settings. Glück (luck) can refer to a happy situation, though it’s more casual. Gnade (grace) appears in religious contexts, especially relating to mercy or divine favor. Wohlwollen means “goodwill” and can imply a blessing in a formal or supportive sense. But in almost all contexts—from sacred to everyday—Segen is the most natural and powerful choice.

Word variations and tidbits

You’ll hear Segen in compound words like Gottes Segen (God’s blessing), Elternsegen (parents’ blessing), Segensspruch (blessing saying), Segenswunsch (blessing wish), and Segnung (the act of blessing). The verb is segnen (“to bless”), and you’ll often hear it in church settings: Der Pfarrer segnet die Gemeinde. (“The pastor blesses the congregation.”)

🧠 Fun fact: In traditional Catholic households in German-speaking countries, Christliches Haus mit Gottes Segen (Christian home with God’s blessing) was often inscribed near the doorway—sometimes still visible in older homes today.

📘 Duden entry for Segen
🎥 Want to receive a blessing for your vocabulary? Our free video course teaches the top 1000 German nouns—with clear examples, real-life phrases, and a printable PDF to guide your learning.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Do you know what Sekunde means? A single one can change everything.
And what about Sinn? That’s what turns a Segen into something truly meaningful.