In the middle of trouble, uncertainty, or darkness, what keeps people going? In German, it’s Hoffnung. It’s a word for what we hold onto when we’re waiting for things to get better.

The noun Hoffnung means hope, and it covers everything from quiet optimism to desperate longing. It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it’s found everywhere: in daily conversation, political speeches, philosophy, and religion.

It’s a feminine noun, so we say die Hoffnung.

Pronunciation

Hoffnung is pronounced [HOFF-noong].

• The “hoff” rhymes with “off,” said with a strong burst of breath.

• The “nung” ends softly, with a gentle “ng” that rolls quietly in the back of the mouth.

It’s a round, warm-sounding word—perfect for something as tender and resilient as hope.

Example sentences:

• Die Hoffnung stirbt zuletzt.
  Hope dies last. (A common German proverb)

• Ich habe die Hoffnung noch nicht aufgegeben.
  I haven’t given up hope yet.

Nuance and usage tips

Hoffnung can describe a feeling, a goal, or even a person who represents hope. You’ll often see it in phrases like:

• große Hoffnung – high hopes

• verlorene Hoffnung – lost hope

• ein Funken Hoffnung – a spark of hope

• neue Hoffnung schöpfen – to regain hope

It also appears in emotional or poetic contexts, but is just as likely to be used in medical reports, climate discussions, or football interviews.

Its natural antonym is Verzweiflung (feminine, die Verzweiflung)—despair. The two often appear as emotional opposites in literature and life.

Grammatical case examples:

• Nominative: Die Hoffnung lebt weiter.
  Hope lives on.

• Accusative: Wir haben die Hoffnung nie verloren.
  We never lost hope.

• Dative: Mit der Hoffnung kam auch der Mut zurück.
  With hope came courage again.

• Genitive: Wegen der Hoffnung auf Besserung blieben sie stark.
  Because of the hope for improvement, they stayed strong.

Feminine case pattern: die, die, der, der

Word variations and language tidbits

Variation Station:

• hoffnungsvoll – hopeful

• hoffnungslos – hopeless

• Hoffnungsträger(in) – bearer of hope (often used for politicians, athletes, etc.)

• Hoffnungsschimmer – glimmer of hope

In religion and literature, Hoffnung is one of the big three virtues alongside Glaube (faith) and Liebe (love). Expect it in sermons, poetry, and pop songs alike.

📘 Duden entry: https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Hoffnung

🎥 Learn Hoffnung and the rest of the top 1000 German nouns in our free online video course:
https://deutschable.com/nouns/

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