It’s on your desk, hanging above your table, glowing in the corner while you read — and yes, you’ll want to know how to talk about it. Learning how to say lamp in German is one of those satisfying wins for any beginner or intermediate learner.
The word is Lampe — pronounced “LAHM-puh” (just like in English, but with a short "uh" at the end).
Lampe is feminine, so it’s die Lampe. The plural is die Lampen. If you’re still getting the hang of noun gender, my gender video lesson clears up the system quickly and painlessly.
Lampe is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it’s part of everyday conversation in homes, offices, and schools — plus, it's easy to pronounce and remember.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:
Die Lampe ist neu und sehr hell.
The lamp is new and very bright.
Accusative:
Ich kaufe die Lampe morgen.
I’m buying the lamp tomorrow.
Dative:
Ich habe das Buch unter der Lampe gelesen.
I read the book under the lamp.
Genitive:
Die Farbe der Lampe gefällt mir nicht.
I don’t like the color of the lamp.
Real-World Tips for Learners
You’ll hear Lampe used in many forms and settings — from home improvement stores to cozy evening plans. It’s a useful building block word that pairs naturally with adjectives, locations, and actions:
eine Tischlampe – a desk lamp
eine Stehlampe – a floor lamp
eine Nachttischlampe – a bedside lamp
die Lampe anmachen / ausmachen – to turn the lamp on / off
There’s also die Glühbirne (light bulb), which often goes in a Lampe. So you might hear:
Die Lampe geht nicht — die Glühbirne ist kaputt.
The lamp doesn’t work — the bulb is broken.
Metaphorically, Germans don’t use Lampe much the way English might say “a light went on in my head” — but they might still say eine Idee kam mir, or mir wurde klar.
Fun fact: Lampe also appears in compound words like Warnlampe (warning light) or Autolampe (car light).
Beginner dialogue using Lampe:
A: Die Lampe flackert. Hast du das gesehen?
B: Ja, vielleicht ist die Glühbirne fast durch.
A: The lamp is flickering. Did you see that?
B: Yeah, maybe the lightbulb is almost dead.
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Lampe.
“Welche Lampe benutzt du am meisten zu Hause — und warum?”
Which lamp do you use most at home — and why?
Say your answer out loud in German and include Lampe in the sentence.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say lamp in German — and how die Lampe helps you speak naturally about daily life, lighting, and more.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German to keep growing your practical vocabulary.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Ladung — and explore words for weight, charge, and court summons.
Or revisit Kombination — perfect for mixing outfits, ideas, or numbers.