From headaches to hats to clever thoughts, knowing how to say head in German is one of the most useful pieces of vocabulary you can learn early on. It shows up in body talk, expressions, gestures, and even signs — both literal and metaphorical.
The word is Kopf — pronounced “kohpf” (rhymes with “off” but with a tight -pf at the end). It may sound a bit abrupt, but it’s easy to recognize and gets repeated constantly in conversation.
Kopf is masculine, so it’s der Kopf. The plural is die Köpfe — note the umlaut in the plural form. If you’re still figuring out gender and article patterns, my gender video lesson can help you master the system quickly.
Kopf is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it's essential not only for medical and descriptive language but also for expressing thoughts, ideas, and emotional states.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:
Der Kopf tut mir weh.
My head hurts.
Accusative:
Ich habe den Kopf gestoßen.
I bumped my head.
Dative:
Er denkt nur mit dem Kopf.
He only thinks with his head.
Genitive:
Die Form des Kopfes ist sehr rund.
The shape of the head is very round.
Real-World Tips for Learners
Kopf appears constantly in both literal and figurative language. You might hear someone say Ich habe Kopfweh (I have a headache) or Denk doch mit dem Kopf! (Use your head!). It's also used to describe leadership or status — der Kopf der Gruppe means the head or leader of a group.
In sports and health, Kopfball is a header in soccer, and Kopfschmerzen is a go-to word for headache. You’ll see it in instructions too — like Kopf nach links drehen (turn your head to the left).
Metaphorically, it plays a big role in idioms:
Den Kopf verlieren – to lose one’s head
Sich den Kopf zerbrechen – to rack one’s brain
Etwas im Kopf haben – to have something in mind
Jemandem den Kopf verdrehen – to turn someone’s head (romantically)
Kopf hoch! – Cheer up! (literally “Head up!”)
Because the word appears in so many situations — physical, mental, emotional — learning Kopf gives you access to a lot more of the language than just body parts.
Beginner dialogue using Kopf:
A: Was ist los?
B: Ich habe Kopfschmerzen. Mein Kopf tut weh.
A: What’s wrong?
B: I have a headache. My head hurts.
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Kopf.
“Was machst du, wenn du Schmerzen im Kopf hast?”
What do you do when you have pain in your head?
Say your answer out loud in German and make sure to include Kopf in your sentence.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say head in German — and how der Kopf helps you describe pain, thought, emotion, and personality in real conversation.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and start learning smarter.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Kreuz — a word full of meaning, maps, and symbolism.
Or revisit Kunst — and discover how art and expression show up across the language.