Want to say someone is trying hard? Or that something isn’t worth the effort? If you’re looking to express effort, care, or difficulty, learning effort in German will give you a powerful, emotional word used in all kinds of everyday situations.
The word is die Mühe. It’s feminine, and the plural is die Mühen, though the singular is far more common. If you’re still getting used to gender and articles, my video lesson on noun gender will help you make sense of it.
Mühe is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, especially in polite expressions and motivational talk.
Here’s how Mühe appears in each of the four grammatical cases:
Nominative:
Die Mühe hat sich gelohnt.
The effort was worth it.
Accusative:
Ich schätze deine Mühe sehr.
I really appreciate your effort.
Dative:
Mit viel Mühe habe ich es geschafft.
With a lot of effort, I made it.
Genitive:
Trotz der Mühe war das Ergebnis schlecht.
Despite the effort, the result was bad.
Play and learn German words rapidly!
Verbs often paired with Mühe include geben (to give), machen (to make), lohnen (to be worth it), sich bemühen (to try), and schätzen (to appreciate). Common phrases:
Danke für deine Mühe. — Thanks for your effort.
Er gibt sich Mühe. — He’s making an effort.
Das ist die Mühe nicht wert. — It’s not worth the trouble.
Adjectives include groß (great), unnötig (unnecessary), vergeblich (in vain), ehrlich (genuine), and kleinste (the slightest).
The idiom sich Mühe geben (literally “to give oneself effort”) is a very common and natural expression for trying hard.
Beginner dialogue using Mühe naturally:
A: Dein Deutsch ist echt gut geworden.
B: Danke! Ich habe mir viel Mühe gegeben.
A: Your German has really improved.
B: Thanks! I’ve put in a lot of effort.
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it out loud using Mühe or Mühen in your sentence.
“Wann hast du dir das letzte Mal Mühe gegeben — und warum?”
When was the last time you really made an effort — and why?
Just one clear sentence aloud is enough to make the word feel real.
German Word of the Day
Now you’ve learned how to say effort in German — and how die Mühe helps you talk about trying, failing, succeeding, and caring. It’s one of those words that adds emotional clarity to your German.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German to continue building your real-world vocabulary the smart way.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Revisit Name — and learn how to introduce yourself and others confidently.
Or check out Mord — and see how serious words add depth to stories and expressions.