Whether you’re meeting someone, naming a village, or describing where something took place, the word place is absolutely essential—and knowing how to say Place in German is a foundational step in everyday fluency. The German word is der Ort, and it belongs on every learner’s radar. It’s also one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German—and shows up constantly in conversation, signs, and news headlines.

Ort is masculine—der Ort—and pronounced ort (like the English word "oar" with a crisp t). It’s often used in more official or geographic contexts than Platz, which also means "place" but usually refers to a physical space, like a seat or area. If you’re unsure about how gender works in German, our video lesson on der, die, das can clear things up fast—without heavy grammar talk.

Ort refers to a specific location—often a town, village, or site. You'll see it in names like der Geburtsort (place of birth), Tatort (crime scene), or Wohnort (place of residence). While Platz can refer to “space” or “a spot,” Ort is more about named or identifiable locations.

The opposite of Ort isn’t a single word, but depending on context, it could be Unbekannt (unknown), Nirgendwo (nowhere), or Fern (far away). It’s a deeply flexible word that forms the root of many compound terms like Einsatzort (site of deployment), Fluchtort (place of escape), or Lieblingsort (favorite place).

Culturally, Ort shows up in thoughtful or poetic contexts—ein Ort der Ruhe (a place of peace) or ein heiliger Ort (a sacred place). It’s one of those deceptively simple words that Germans use to express both geography and emotion.

Example Sentences

Mein Geburtsort ist ein kleines Dorf in Bayern.
My place of birth is a small village in Bavaria.

Die Polizei sperrte den Ort des Unfalls ab.
The police sealed off the scene of the accident.

Wir suchen einen Ort, an dem wir das Picknick machen können.
We’re looking for a place to have the picnic.

Beginner Dialogue

Leo: Kennst du einen schönen Ort zum Wandern?
Sophie: Ja, in der Nähe vom See gibt es tolle Wege.

Translation
Leo: Do you know a nice place to hike?
Sophie: Yes, there are great trails near the lake.

Duden entry:
https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Ort

Want more vocabulary for navigating space and identity?
Check out Papier for materials, documents, and everyday essentials.
Or revisit Person for talking about people clearly and neutrally.

Viel Erfolg beim Deutschlernen – and keep finding your own learning place in German.