It’s what separates things, helps you compare, and makes you ask, “Is that really the same?” In German, it’s der Unterschied. This is your German word of the day, and it’s essential for expressing contrast—between people, opinions, or even shades of green.
The noun Unterschied means difference, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. Whether you're comparing products, people, or ideas, this is your go-to word to express what sets them apart.
It’s a masculine noun, so we say der Unterschied (still puzzled by German gender? This short video lesson makes it all click).
Pronunciation
Unterschied is pronounced [OON-ter-sheed].
Un like “oon,”
ter like “ter” in teacher,
schied rhymes with “seed,” but with a sharper d
Stress is on the first syllable: UN-ter-schied
It sounds deliberate—perfect for comparing.
Example sentences:
Was ist der Unterschied zwischen diesen beiden Modellen?
What’s the difference between these two models?
Ich sehe keinen großen Unterschied.
I don’t see a big difference.
Nuance and usage tips
Unterschied is used when talking about any kind of distinction—concrete or abstract.
Typical phrases:
ein großer / kleiner Unterschied – a big / small difference
Unterschiede feststellen – to identify differences
einen Unterschied machen – to make a difference
Unterschied zwischen … und … – difference between … and …
Pro tip: Don’t confuse Unterschied with Änderung (change) or Abweichung (deviation)—those have narrower meanings. Unterschied is the most general, flexible option.
How does this word come up in real conversations?
Unterschied is one of the most common comparison words in everyday speech:
“Gibt’s einen Unterschied zwischen dem alten und dem neuen iPhone?”
Is there a difference between the old and new iPhone?
“Der Unterschied liegt im Detail.”
The difference is in the details.
It’s also great when learning German itself:
“Was ist der Unterschied zwischen ‘das’ und ‘dass’?”
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Lukas: Ist das Bio-Müsli wirklich besser?
Maya: Ja! Der Unterschied ist der Geschmack.
Lukas: Und der Preis…
Maya: Stimmt. Der ist auch nicht klein.
Lukas: Is the organic muesli really better?
Maya: Yes! The difference is in the taste.
Lukas: And the price…
Maya: True. That’s not small either.
Grammatical case examples:
Nominative:
Der Unterschied ist kaum erkennbar.
The difference is barely noticeable.
Accusative:
Ich merke den Unterschied sofort.
I notice the difference right away.
Dative:
Mit dem Unterschied konnte ich leben.
I could live with the difference.
Genitive:
Die Bedeutung des Unterschieds war enorm.
The importance of the difference was huge.
Masculine case pattern: der, den, dem, des
Word variations and language tidbits
Helpful phrases and compounds:
Meinungsunterschied – difference of opinion
Temperaturunterschied – temperature difference
Altersunterschied – age gap
Unterschiedlich – different (adjective)
Unterscheidung – distinction or classification
Fun fact: The phrase “Das macht keinen Unterschied” (“It doesn’t make a difference”) is often used to shrug off a choice—very useful for polite indecision.
📘 Duden entry
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