Some words carry heat. Passion in German is more than a feeling — it’s a driver of work, art, relationships, and identity. It’s powerful, poetic, and used with care in German.
The word is die Leidenschaft. It’s feminine, and the plural is die Leidenschaften. If you’re still figuring out gender and article use, my gender video lesson is a great place to clear it all up quickly.
Leidenschaft is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it’s the perfect word for when you're talking about something you deeply love or care about.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:
Die Leidenschaft war in jedem Ton zu spüren.
The passion was felt in every note.
Accusative:
Ich teile die Leidenschaft für Musik.
I share the passion for music.
Dative:
Mit der Leidenschaft kam der Erfolg.
Success came with the passion.
Genitive:
Die Kraft der Leidenschaft ist unberechenbar.
The power of passion is unpredictable.
Real-World Tips for Learners
Leidenschaft comes from the roots Leid (suffering) and -schaft (similar to "-ship"), giving it a sense of depth — not just excitement, but emotional weight. That’s why this word tends to be used with things that truly matter to someone.
You’ll commonly see it in:
job applications: Ich bringe Leidenschaft für das Thema mit
art and music: mit großer Leidenschaft gespielt
romance or identity: Ihre größte Leidenschaft ist das Schreiben
advertising: Handwerk mit Leidenschaft
Be careful not to overuse it — in German, Leidenschaft is a serious word. Saying “Ich habe eine Leidenschaft für Pizza” might sound a bit intense or ironic unless you mean it that way.
You may also hear the related adjective leidenschaftlich (passionate), often describing actions or personality traits:
leidenschaftlicher Redner – passionate speaker
leidenschaftlich küssen – to kiss passionately
Beginner dialogue using Leidenschaft:
A: Was ist deine größte Leidenschaft?
B: Schreiben. Ich könnte stundenlang Geschichten erzählen.
A: What’s your greatest passion?
B: Writing. I could tell stories for hours.
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Leidenschaft.
“Welche Leidenschaft möchtest du nie verlieren — und warum?”
What passion do you never want to lose — and why?
Say it out loud — let it come from the heart.
Duden entry for “Leidenschaft”
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say passion in German — and how die Leidenschaft carries deep emotional intensity in everyday life.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and fuel your language learning with purpose.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Leistung — to learn how Germans talk about success and output.
Or revisit Leitung — to explore a word that bridges management and cables.