From romantic scenes to casual greetings, the word kiss in German is short, strong, and packed with emotion. It’s a key noun that you’ll come across in real life, pop culture, and even texts between friends.

The word is Kuss — pronounced “kooss” (rhyming loosely with moose, with a crisper final s sound).

Kuss is masculine, so it’s der Kuss. The plural is die Küsse. Not sure how gender works? My gender video lesson makes it fast and easy to understand.

Kuss is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it shows up in everyday life far more than you’d expect.

Examples in all four cases:

Nominative:
Der Kuss war kurz, aber bedeutungsvoll.
The kiss was short, but meaningful.

Accusative:
Er gab ihr einen Kuss auf die Stirn.
He gave her a kiss on the forehead.

Dative:
Sie schickte dem Kind einen Kuss.
She sent the child a kiss.

Genitive:
Die Erinnerung an den Kuss blieb lange.
The memory of the kiss lasted a long time.

Real-World Tips for Learners

Kuss is common in everyday German — not just in movies and romance, but also in friendly expressions and greetings. Some typical combinations include:

• ein Kuss auf die Wange – a kiss on the cheek

• ein letzter Kuss – a final kiss

• ein zärtlicher Kuss – a tender kiss

• Kuss, deine Maria – “Kiss, yours, Maria” (used in texts or letters)

People often end texts or messages with just:
Kuss! or Küsse!
Like “xoxo” or “Love ya!”

There's also the affectionate phrase:
Ich schicke dir einen Kuss! – I’m sending you a kiss!

The verb küssen (to kiss) is regular and also widely used:
Sie küssten sich unter dem Sternenhimmel. – They kissed under the starry sky.

Beginner dialogue using Kuss:

A: Warum hast du so gelächelt?
B: Ich habe gerade einen Kuss bekommen.
A: Why did you smile like that?
B: I just got a kiss.

Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Kuss.

“Erinnerst du dich an einen besonderen Kuss? Was war besonders daran?”
Do you remember a special kiss? What made it special?

Say your answer out loud in German and include Kuss in the sentence.

Duden entry for “Kuss”

German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say kiss in German — and how der Kuss adds charm and nuance to both everyday and emotional conversations.

Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and keep expanding your German vocabulary in the most natural way.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Küste — perfect for travel dreams and real-world location talk.
Or revisit Labor — ideal for science, tech, and diagnostics.