Today’s word is something every German learner hears in small talk: Regen — the German word for rain. Whether you're talking about the weather, packing for a trip, or complaining about a gray day, Regen is part of the everyday German experience (especially if you're in Hamburg).

Regen is a masculine noun, so the correct article is der — der Regen. Still wondering how to get German gender right without memorizing every noun? Our quick and incredibly helpful 5-minute video lesson shows you how to master der / die / das with confidence.

Real conversations where Regen might come up

You’ll hear Regen in weather forecasts, travel plans, and polite chitchat. Germans love to comment on the weather — often because it’s gray and wet.

– Heute kommt Regen.
– Schon wieder? Ich hab die Nase voll.
(“Rain’s coming today.” – “Again? I’m sick of it.”)

Beginner sample dialogue

Lisa: Hast du einen Schirm?
Timo: Nein, wieso?
Lisa: Es gibt gleich Regen!
Timo: Mist! Dann werde ich nass.

(Lisa: Do you have an umbrella?
Timo: No, why?
Lisa: It’s about to rain!
Timo: Damn! Then I’ll get wet.)

Grammar in action: How to use Regen

• Nominative: Der Regen hört nicht auf.
  (The rain won’t stop.)

• Accusative: Ich hasse den Regen.
  (I hate the rain.)

• Dative: Trotz dem Regen gehen wir spazieren.
  (Despite the rain, we’re going for a walk.)

• Genitive: Die Farbe des Regens ist grau.
  (The color of the rain is gray.)

Not sure how the cases work? Our German grammar course breaks it down clearly — no charts, no stress, just useful explanations in plain English.

Other ways to talk about Regen in German

The word Regen is used in many everyday combinations and expressions:

• Regenschirm – umbrella

• Regenjacke – rain jacket

• Regenwetter – rainy weather

• Regenbogen – rainbow

• Nieselregen – drizzle

• Platzregen – downpour

• Regentropfen – raindrop

• Regenzeit – rainy season

Common expressions:

• im Regen stehen lassen – to leave someone hanging

• wie aus Eimern regnen – to rain buckets

• nach dem Regen kommt die Sonne – after rain comes sunshine (used both literally and figuratively)

Word variations and tidbits

Regen is one of those German words that’s often part of compound nouns. It’s also used as a verb: regnen (to rain).

Examples:

• Heute regnet es. – It’s raining today.

• Es hat die ganze Nacht geregnet. – It rained all night.

• Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. – If it rains, I stay home.

And if you’re ever stuck in Germany with soggy shoes, at least you’ll have the right word for it.

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

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