How do you say Joke in German?

Whether it makes you laugh, groan, or roll your eyes - Germans call it a Witz. It’s a word for humor in all its forms, from clever quips to terrible puns to slightly inappropriate dinner-table moments.

The noun Witz means joke, witticism, or sometimes sense of humor, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. You’ll hear it in everyday banter, stand-up comedy, and playground taunts.

It’s a masculine noun, so we say der Witz.

Pronunciation

Witz is pronounced [vits] - one short, crisp syllable.

• W is pronounced like a V,
• The i is short, like in bit,
• The tz is sharp and clear, like in pizza.
• Sounds like: “vits”

It’s quick and punchy - just like a good joke should be.

Example sentences:

• Er hat einen richtig guten Witz erzählt.He told a really good joke.
• Das war wohl ein schlechter Witz.That must’ve been a bad joke.

Nuance and usage tips

Witz comes from the old German word for wit, and originally referred to cleverness or mental sharpness. Over time, it shifted toward verbal humor.

1. Literal jokes and humor
   • ein lustiger Witz - a funny joke
   • Witze erzählen - to tell jokes
   • Witz des Tages - joke of the day
2. Wit or cleverness (less common today)
   • Sie hat viel Witz und Charme. - She has a lot of wit and charm.
   • Geisteswitz - quick-wittedness
3. Sarcasm or irony
   • Das war doch nur ein Witz! - That was just a joke!
     Das ist ja wohl ein Witz! - You’ve got to be kidding me!
     Der Witz ist, dass … - The funny thing is that …
   • Er versteht keinen Witz. - He has no sense of humor.

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