Some words look exactly the same in English and German — and original in German is one of them. But don’t let that fool you into thinking you already know how to use it. In German, Original carries its own tone, meaning, and range of use, from legal copies to creative expression.
The correct form is das Original, and the plural is die Originale. It’s a neuter noun, and if you’d like a clear breakdown of how gender and articles work, check out my gender video lesson — it’s a fast and helpful guide.
Original is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and shows up everywhere from copyright discussions to product reviews to personality descriptions.
Here’s how Original works in all four cases:
Nominative:
Das Original ist sicher im Archiv.
The original is safely stored in the archive.
Accusative:
Ich brauche das Original des Dokuments.
I need the original of the document.
Dative:
Sie arbeitet mit dem Original, nicht mit einer Kopie.
She’s working with the original, not a copy.
Genitive:
Die Qualität des Originals ist deutlich besser.
The quality of the original is clearly better.
Original is frequently used with verbs like sehen (to see), besitzen (to own), kopieren (to copy), verlieren (to lose), or zurückgeben (to return). You’ll hear people say things like im Original sehen (see in the original), ein echtes Original (a true original), or das ist kein Original – das ist eine Fälschung! (that’s not an original — it’s a fake!).
It also appears in personal and creative contexts. Someone might say Er ist ein echtes Original to describe a person with a strong, quirky personality — like saying, “he’s one of a kind” or “a real character.”
Common adjectives include echt (real), kreativ (creative), künstlerisch (artistic), selten (rare), and wertvoll (valuable).
Here’s how Original might appear in casual conversation:
A: Ist das ein echter Picasso?
B: Nein, leider nicht. Das Original hängt im Museum.
A: Is that a real Picasso?
B: No, unfortunately not. The original hangs in the museum.
Now it’s your turn to practice. Think of your answer and say it out loud in German — no writing necessary. Be sure to use Original or Originale in your response.
“Was ist das interessanteste Original, das du je gesehen hast?”
What’s the most interesting original you’ve ever seen?
This type of speaking exercise helps anchor the word in memory and prepares you for real conversations.
German Word of the Day
You’ve just learned how to say original in German, and how das Original functions in culture, paperwork, and personality. Words like this go beyond translation — they help you speak with precision and creativity.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and keep building your vocabulary the smart way.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Go back to Organisation — a word for both structure and social impact.
Or revisit Palast — and learn how Germans describe grandeur and royalty.