Sometimes it takes just a few words to lift someone up — or to describe your own bravery. Whether you’re giving encouragement, sharing your fears, or talking about bold decisions, you’ll want to know how to say courage in German.

The word is der Mut. It’s masculine, and it has no plural form. If you’d like a quick way to understand how gender works in German, my gender video lesson will help.

Mut is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it appears in casual encouragement, dramatic storytelling, and emotional conversation alike.

Quick examples across the four cases:

Nominative:
Der Mut hat ihm geholfen.
Courage helped him.

Accusative:
Ich bewundere den Mut dieser Frau.
I admire this woman’s courage.

Dative:
Mit dem Mut kommt die Stärke.
With courage comes strength.

Genitive:
Die Geschichte des Mutes inspiriert mich.
The story of courage inspires me.

Mut connects to many real-life topics — from daily nerves to life-changing choices.

Common phrases include:

• Mut haben – to have courage

• den Mut verlieren – to lose courage

• jemandem Mut machen – to encourage someone

• mutig sein – to be brave

• mit Mut und Herz – with courage and heart

• aus reinem Mut – out of pure courage

Verbs: haben, zeigen (show), finden, verlieren, brauchen
Adjectives: groß (great), wenig (little), täglich (everyday), still (quiet), bewundernswert (admirable)

There’s no one kind of courage — and Mut helps you talk about all of them.

Beginner dialogue using Mut:

A: Ich habe Angst vor der Prüfung.
B: Du schaffst das. Du hast genug Mut!
A: I’m afraid of the exam.
B: You can do it. You have enough courage!

Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it out loud using Mut.

“Wann hast du zuletzt Mut gezeigt — und warum?”
When did you last show courage — and why?

Speak freely. Even a short thought using Mut brings the word to life.

Duden entry for “Mut”

German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say courage in German — and how der Mut helps you talk about strength, fear, and self-expression in any situation.

Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and keep learning vocabulary with meaning and emotion.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Nachmittag — and learn how to talk about time and daily plans.
Or revisit Nacht — and add expressive phrases to your evening vocabulary.