Whether it’s a national regulation, a rule of nature, or something your parents declared at dinner—Germans call it a Gesetz. It’s the word for formal rules, binding principles, and universal truths.

The noun Gesetz means law, and it’s used to refer to both legal statutes and natural laws (like physics or logic). It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and you’ll find it in politics, science, religion, and even everyday complaints.

It’s a neuter noun, so we say das Gesetz.

Pronunciation

Gesetz is pronounced [guh-ZETS].

• The “Ge” sounds like “guh,”
• The “setz” rhymes with “pets,” and
• The final “z” gives it a sharp snap, like a legal gavel.

It has a strong, formal sound—exactly what you’d expect from something meant to regulate behavior.

Example sentences:

• Das neue Gesetz tritt nächste Woche in Kraft.
  The new law goes into effect next week.
• Im Universum gelten bestimmte Naturgesetze.
  Certain laws of nature apply in the universe.

Nuance and usage tips

Gesetz is always something official—a codified rule, not a vague guideline. It applies in:

1. Legal contexts:
   • Strafgesetzbuch – penal code
   • Gesetzesentwurf – draft bill
   • gegen das Gesetz verstoßen – to break the law
2. Scientific or philosophical contexts:
   • Naturgesetz – law of nature
   • Gesetz der Schwerkraft – law of gravity
3. Religious or moral usage (less frequent):
   • Gottes Gesetz – God’s law

Its antonym depends on context:

• For legal order: Anarchie (feminine, die Anarchie) – lawlessness
• For chaos or randomness: Zufall – chance

Grammatical case examples:

• Nominative: Das Gesetz schützt die Meinungsfreiheit.
  The law protects freedom of speech.
• Accusative: Wir müssen das Gesetz beachten.
  We must obey the law.
• Dative: Mit dem Gesetz kamen auch neue Verpflichtungen.
  With the law came new obligations.
• Genitive: Wegen des Gesetzes gab es eine Protestbewegung.
  Because of the law, a protest movement began.

Neuter case pattern: das, das, dem, des

Word variations and language tidbits

Variation Station:

• Gesetze erlassen – to enact laws
• Gesetzesverstoß – violation of a law
• gesetzlich – legal, lawful
• Grundgesetz – Basic Law (Germany’s constitution)
• Gesetzgeber – legislator / lawmaker

Cultural tip: In Germany, the Grundgesetz (Basic Law) serves as the country’s constitution. Germans often refer to Artikel 1 des Grundgesetzes—“Human dignity is inviolable”—as a core national value.

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

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

Alternate translations note:
If you're talking about a rule in a casual or personal setting, Regel may be more appropriate. For moral laws or ethical guidelines, Gebot (commandment) might apply. But for official legal statutes or universal principles, Gesetz is your word.

Ready for two more German words of the day? How about Griff or Glück?