If you’ve ever tried to read a map, enter a GPS location, or describe something in math class, you’ve already worked with coordinates. And the German word for this useful concept is every bit as international — with a few important twists.
The word is Koordinaten — pronounced “KOHR-dee-nah-ten” (stress on the first syllable, all vowels clean and short). It’s a plural-only noun in German, similar to scissors or pants in English.
The singular form is Koordinate and it's feminine. Not sure what that means? Watch my short video explaining German gender here! Koordinaten is part of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, which makes it worth learning early.
Examples in the four cases (plural-only):
Nominative:
Die Koordinaten sind korrekt.
The coordinates are correct.
Accusative:
Ich habe die Koordinaten eingegeben.
I entered the coordinates.
Dative:
Mit den Koordinaten kannst du den Ort finden.
With the coordinates, you can find the place.
Genitive:
Die Genauigkeit der Koordinaten ist entscheidend.
The precision of the coordinates is crucial.
Real-World Tips for Learners
In daily life, Koordinaten show up in all kinds of situations — from using your smartphone to navigating a city, to watching crime shows, or learning geometry in school.
Some useful phrases include:
- GPS-Koordinaten – GPS coordinates
- Koordinaten eingeben – enter coordinates
- die genauen Koordinaten – the exact coordinates
- sich an den Koordinaten orientieren – to orient yourself using coordinates
You’ll also find Koordinaten in math class, paired with x-Achse (x-axis) and y-Achse (y-axis). A typical sentence might be:
Der Punkt hat die Koordinaten (3|4) – The point has coordinates (3, 4).
Though not as emotionally rich as some other nouns, Koordinaten can come up in travel stories, location-based games, tech talk, or any conversation involving direction or space. Knowing it gives you confidence in both technical and everyday contexts.
Beginner dialogue using Koordinaten:
A: Wo genau ist das Festival?
B: Ich schick dir die Koordinaten per Handy.
A: Where exactly is the festival?
B: I’ll send you the coordinates by phone.
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Koordinaten.
“Hast du schon mal Koordinaten benutzt, um einen Ort zu finden?”
Have you ever used coordinates to find a place?
Say your answer out loud in German and be sure to use Koordinaten in your sentence.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say coordinates in German — and how Koordinaten let you move through math, maps, and the modern world with precision.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German to build a truly functional and practical vocabulary.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Kreis — and explore how shapes, groups, and districts are connected in German.
Or revisit Lächeln — a beautiful word that brings joy and connection into your language.