It’s a vital organ, a traditional dish, and part of some surprisingly emotional expressions. If you’re studying German for medical, culinary, or everyday reasons, you’ll want to know how to say liver in German — and how the word shows up in unexpected places.
The word is die Leber, and it’s feminine. The plural is die Lebern, though most people talk about just one — especially in medical or culinary contexts. If gender still gives you trouble, my gender video lesson will help you get it sorted quickly.
Leber is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it appears in both technical and casual conversations — especially if you’ve ever been to the doctor, read a recipe, or heard someone describe a night of too much alcohol.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:
Die Leber ist ein wichtiges Organ.
The liver is an important organ.
Accusative:
Er untersucht die Leber mit Ultraschall.
He examines the liver with ultrasound.
Dative:
Mit der Leber stimmt etwas nicht.
Something is wrong with the liver.
Genitive:
Die Funktion der Leber ist entscheidend.
The liver’s function is critical.
Real-World Tips for Learners
In medical German, Leber is straightforward: it’s the liver. You’ll find it in words like Leberkrankheit (liver disease), Leberwerte (liver function test results), and Leberzirrhose (cirrhosis). If you ever need to describe symptoms, diets, or check-ups, this word will come up.
But Leber also appears in cooking. A traditional dish in many German-speaking areas is Leber mit Zwiebeln — fried liver with onions. It’s either a nostalgic comfort food or a culinary no-go, depending on the person. You’ll also find liver in Leberwurst (liver sausage), a spread made from cooked liver, often seasoned and served on bread.
Interestingly, Leber is tied into a few German expressions, too. One of the most vivid is auf die Leber gehen, literally “to go on the liver,” meaning something is bothering you deeply or emotionally — similar to “getting under your skin.” For example: Diese ständige Kritik geht mir auf die Leber – “This constant criticism is really getting to me.”
The tone of the word can shift depending on context. It’s clinical at the doctor’s office, hearty in a recipe, and emotional in idioms. This flexibility makes Leber more useful than it might seem at first glance.
Beginner dialogue using Leber:
A: Magst du Leber essen?
B: Nur mit viel Zwiebeln!
A: Do you like eating liver?
B: Only with lots of onions!
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Leber.
“Hast du schon einmal Leber gegessen? Und wie hat sie dir geschmeckt?”
Have you ever eaten liver? And how did you like it?
Say your answer aloud in German and be sure to include Leber in your sentence.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say liver in German — and how die Leber bridges health, food, and feeling in one short word.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German to keep your vocabulary strong and well-nourished.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Legende — and learn how to talk about myths, icons, and famous people.
Or revisit Leib — and explore a more emotional, poetic word for the body.