The German word for cut is der Schnitt.
Schnitt in German can refer to a physical cut (like in fabric or hair), a film cut, or a figurative cut (like grades or averages). It’s an extremely flexible word used in many everyday and professional contexts.
It’s also one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German (and included in our free PDF).
Gender and Pronunciation
It’s a masculine noun: der Schnitt.
Struggling with gender rules? This video lesson will clear things up.
Pronunciation:
Schnitt is pronounced [shnit]
Rhymes with “bit”
One syllable: SHNIT
Example sentences
Der neue Haarschnitt steht dir gut.
The new haircut looks good on you.
Der Film hat einen schnellen Schnitt.
The film has fast editing.
Der Schnitt lag bei 2,1.
The average was 2.1.
How does this word come up in real conversations?
"Ich hab einen neuen Schnitt beim Friseur bekommen."
I got a new cut at the hairdresser.
"Wie war dein Schnitt im Zeugnis?"
What was your grade average on your report card?
"Dieser Schnitt tut weh!"
That cut hurts!
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Max: Gehst du heute noch zum Friseur?
Mira: Ja – ich brauch dringend einen neuen Schnitt.
Max: Kurz oder lang?
Mira: Mal sehen. Spontan!
Translation:
Max: Are you going to the hairdresser today?
Mira: Yeah – I really need a new cut.
Max: Short or long?
Mira: We’ll see. Spur of the moment!
Grammatical case examples
Nominative:
Der Schnitt ist sehr modern.
The cut is very modern.
Accusative:
Ich möchte den gleichen Schnitt wie letztes Mal.
I’d like the same cut as last time.
Dative:
Mit dem Schnitt bin ich zufrieden.
I’m happy with the cut.
Genitive:
Die Linie des Schnitts ist klar.
The line of the cut is clear.
Other ways to say cut in German
While Schnitt is the standard noun for cut in German, Schnittwunde is used for wounds, Schnittstelle for technical interfaces, and Ausschnitt for cutout or neckline. The verb schneiden means “to cut.”
Word variations and tidbits
Schnitt appears in Haarschnitt (haircut), Schnittmuster (sewing pattern), Durchschnitt (average), Filmschnitt (film editing), and Schnittfläche (cut surface). Germans often talk about Notenschnitt (grade average) when applying for university.
📘 Duden entry for Schnitt
🎥 Want to cut through the confusion? Our free video course teaches the top 1000 German nouns—with examples, clarity, and a printable PDF.
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