How do you say nonsense (Unsinn) in German?

It’s what kids say to delay bedtime, what you mutter during bad meetings, and what comedians say on stage. In German, it’s der Unsinn. This is your German word of the day, and it’s perfect for calling something silly, untrue, or just plain ridiculous.

The noun Unsinn means nonsense, rubbish, or foolishness, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. You’ll hear it in playgrounds, political arguments, and when someone tells a story that doesn’t quite add up.

It’s a masculine noun, so we say der Unsinn (need help getting gender straight? Our video lesson makes it quick and intuitive).

Pronunciation

Unsinn is pronounced [UN-zin].

• Un - short u, as in “put” (not “oon”),

• sinn rhymes with “bin,”

• Stress is on the first syllable: UN-sinn

It’s short, snappy, and - well - nonsensical.

Example sentences:

Hör auf mit dem Unsinn!Stop the nonsense!

Das ist doch völliger Unsinn.That’s complete nonsense.

Nuance and usage tips

Unsinn is a very common and flexible word used to express disbelief, criticism, or playful disapproval:

• völliger Unsinn / totaler Unsinn - total nonsense

• Unsinn erzählen - to talk rubbish

• Unsinn machen - to mess around / act silly

• Unsinn reden - to say silly or foolish things

Tone matters! It can be used seriously, sarcastically, or playfully.

Examples:

• “Das ist Unsinn!” - That’s nonsense! (disbelief)

• “Sie machen wieder Unsinn im Klassenzimmer.” - They’re fooling around in class again. (mild disapproval)

• “Ach, das ist doch nur Unsinn.” - Oh, that’s just silliness. (dismissive or amused)

How does this word come up in real conversations?

All the time. It’s a classic go-to word in German for reacting to ideas, stories, or behavior that seems off:

“Was für ein Unsinn steht da in der Zeitung?” - What kind of nonsense is written in that paper?“Die Kinder machen nur Unsinn heute.” - The kids are just being silly today.