Whether it’s a haunted ring, a pirate's treasure, or a string of terrible luck, Germans call it a Fluch. It’s the word for anything that dooms, haunts, or drags you down—magically or metaphorically.
The noun Fluch means curse, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. It shows up in fairy tales, fantasy, religion, frustration—and even polite conversation when something just feels cursed.
It’s a masculine noun, so we say der Fluch.
Pronunciation
Fluch is pronounced [flookh], with a long oo sound (like in “spook”) and a hard, back-of-the-throat ch, as in Bach or the Scottish “loch.”
- One syllable, heavy and final.
- It has a kind of hiss to it—perfect for a word that brings doom.
Example sentences:
- Der Fluch lag seit Jahrhunderten auf dem Schloss.
The curse had lain on the castle for centuries. - Ist das ein Segen oder ein Fluch?
Is that a blessing or a curse?
Nuance and usage tips
Fluch is used both literally and figuratively:
- Supernatural curse
- ein uralter Fluch – an ancient curse
- vom Fluch befreit werden – to be freed from a curse
- ein Fluch des Schicksals – a curse of fate
- Figurative burden / misfortune
- Der Ruhm wurde ihm zum Fluch. – Fame became his curse.
- Die Technik ist ein Fluch und ein Segen zugleich. – Technology is both a curse and a blessing.
- Profanity or cursing (less commonly)
- ein lauter Fluch – a loud swear word
- Though more often for that sense, Germans say Schimpfwort or Fluchen (to curse/swear)
Its antonym is Segen (masculine, der Segen) – blessing.
Grammatical case examples:
- Nominative:
Der Fluch war nicht zu brechen.
The curse could not be broken. - Accusative:
Er fürchtete den Fluch der alten Frau.
He feared the old woman’s curse. - Dative:
Mit dem Fluch kam auch der Wahnsinn.
With the curse came madness. - Genitive:
Wegen des Fluchs starben alle Erben.
Because of the curse, all the heirs died.
Masculine case pattern: der, den, dem, des
Word variations and language tidbits
Variation Station:
- fluchen – to curse (verb, usually meaning to swear or say bad words)
- verfluchen – to curse someone (in a supernatural sense)
- verflucht – cursed / damned (adjective)
- Fluch und Segen – curse and blessing (common phrase)
- Der Fluch der Pharaonen – the curse of the pharaohs (classic trope!)
Fun cultural note:
In German fairy tales and folklore, Flüche are often used to explain strange transformations, long sleeps, or tragic destinies—think Dornröschen (Sleeping Beauty), who falls victim to a Fluch, or Der Froschkönig, whose princely life is ruined by a spell. The idea of ein Fluch, der gebrochen werden muss (“a curse that must be broken”) is a storytelling staple.
📘 Duden entry: https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Fluch
🎥 Learn Fluch and the rest of the top 1000 German nouns in our free online video course:
https://deutschable.com/nouns/
Alternate translations note:
For a verbal outburst or swearing, the words Schimpfwort (insult) or Kraftausdruck (strong expression) are more accurate. But for a curse—be it magical or symbolic—Fluch is the word. It covers fairy tale enchantments, family misfortunes, and the emotional weight of bad luck.
Ready for more German words of the day? Do you know what Flucht means? How about Fall? Find out!