The German word for plan is der Plan.
It refers to any structured idea for achieving a goal—whether it’s a to-do list, an architectural drawing, or a life strategy.

It’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and appears in everything from school projects to startup pitches.

Gender and Pronunciation

It’s a masculine noun: der Plan.
Want help recognizing gender from the ending? Our video lesson shows you how.

Pronunciation:
Plan is pronounced [plahn]

• Rhymes with calm, but shorter

• One syllable: PLAHN

Example sentences

Ich habe einen Plan für heute.
I have a plan for today.

Der Plan ist noch nicht fertig.
The plan isn’t finished yet.

Was ist dein Plan nach dem Studium?
What’s your plan after your studies?

Nuance and usage tips

🧠 Plan is broad—use it for anything from vacation planning to long-term strategies.

📐 In technical or architectural contexts, Plan may mean blueprint or layout, like Stadtplan (city map) or Grundrissplan (floor plan).

📝 Phrases like Plan machen, Plan ändern, and nach Plan laufen are super common.

How does this word come up in real conversations?

"Hast du einen Plan für das Wochenende?"
Do you have a plan for the weekend?

"Unser Plan ist gescheitert."
Our plan failed.

"Ich brauche einen neuen Plan."
I need a new plan.

Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)

Sara: Und, was ist dein Plan für morgen?
Tom: Früh joggen, dann einkaufen.
Sara: Klingt produktiv.
Tom: Hoffentlich klappt alles wie geplant.

Translation:
Sara: So, what’s your plan for tomorrow?
Tom: Jog early, then shopping.
Sara: Sounds productive.
Tom: Hopefully everything works out as planned.

Grammatical case examples

Nominative:
Der Plan war gut, aber schwer umzusetzen.
The plan was good but hard to implement.

Accusative:
Ich habe den Plan überarbeitet.
I revised the plan.

Dative:
Mit dem Plan bin ich nicht zufrieden.
I’m not happy with the plan.

Genitive:
Die Umsetzung des Plans war schwierig.
The implementation of the plan was difficult.

Other ways to say plan in German

Vorhaben is a formal word for intention or project. Strategie is more focused on method. Entwurf is used for drafts or designs. Still, Plan is the go-to word for everyday and professional planning.

Word variations and tidbits

Common combinations: Stundenplan (class schedule), Bauplan (construction plan), Notfallplan (emergency plan), Ernährungsplan (diet plan), Fluchtplan (escape plan).

🧠 Fun fact: The verb planen is a straightforward match: Ich plane eine Reise = “I’m planning a trip.”

📘 Duden entry for Plan:
https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Plan
🎥 Want a better Plan for learning German? Our video course helps you master 1000 essential nouns—fast, visual, and clear.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Do you know what Post means? It’s where you send things, but Plan is how you organize them.
And what about Priester? Even he needs a Plan for Sunday sermons.