Whether you’re cooking, camping, or cutting open a package, the word knife in German is something you’ll hear and use constantly.

The word is das Messer. It’s neuter, and the plural is die Messer — the same spelling. If you're still unsure how to remember when to use das, my gender video lesson explains it clearly and quickly.

Messer is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and comes up often in daily life — from the kitchen to idioms to school supply lists.

Examples in all four cases:

Nominative:
Das Messer ist scharf.
The knife is sharp.

Accusative:
Ich brauche das Messer.
I need the knife.

Dative:
Er schneidet mit dem Messer.
He cuts with the knife.

Genitive:
Die Klinge des Messers ist aus Stahl.
The blade of the knife is made of steel.

Where you’ll hear Messer:

• ein scharfes Messer – a sharp knife

• Taschenmesser – pocket knife

• Messer und Gabel – knife and fork

• Buttermesser – butter knife

• Küchenmesser – kitchen knife

• Messerstecherei – knife fight

Common verbs: schneiden (cut), benutzen (use), fallen lassen (drop), putzen (clean), verlieren (lose)
Adjectives: scharf, stumpf (blunt), klein, gefährlich, silbern

Tip: In some idioms or formal speech, Messer can symbolize danger or risk — e.g., am Messer scheitern (“to fail at the knife”).

Beginner dialogue using Messer:

A: Wo ist das Messer?
B: Im Besteckkasten, neben den Gabeln.
A: Where is the knife?
B: In the cutlery drawer, next to the forks.

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

“Welches Messer benutzt du am liebsten — und warum?”
Which knife do you use most — and why?

Speaking aloud helps make Messer part of your active vocabulary — especially when you tie it to real-life habits.

Duden entry for “Messer”

German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say knife in German — and how das Messer appears in meals, tools, and everyday German talk.

Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and slice through German vocab with clarity.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Milch — for everyday speech in cafés and kitchens.
Or revisit Milliarde — and learn how to talk about big numbers with confidence.