It’s what kicks things off—whether it’s a race, a day, a rocket, or a new job. In German, it’s der Start. This is your German Word of the Day—short, energetic, and used in everything from sports to technology.

The noun Start means start, launch, or takeoff, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. It’s used in both literal and metaphorical contexts and is especially common in sports, transportation, and career talk.

It’s a masculine noun, so we say der Start (want to get gender right without second-guessing? Our video lesson makes it easy and reliable).

Pronunciation

Start is pronounced [shtart]

• The St at the beginning is pronounced sht (like shtart)

• Rhymes with English “part”

• One strong syllable: Start

Example sentences

• Der Start war pünktlich.
  The start was on time.

• Sie bereiten sich auf den Start vor.
  They’re preparing for the start.

• Der Start ins neue Jahr war vielversprechend.
  The start to the new year was promising.

Nuance and usage tips

Start often refers to the beginning of an event, a journey, or an action.

🚀 Common contexts:

• Rennstart / Wettkampfstart – race start

• Raketenstart – rocket launch

• Flugzeugstart – airplane takeoff

• Karrierestart – career start

• Neustart – restart (e.g., of a system or a new phase in life)

• Startlinie – starting line

• Startsignal – starting signal

🖥️ In tech:

• Systemstart – system boot/start-up

• Neustart – reboot (used for computers and life situations alike)

🗣️ Typical phrases:

• einen guten Start haben – to have a good start

• am Start sein – to be ready / in position (slangy, also used in youth culture and rap)

• falscher Start – false start

How does this word come up in real conversations?

• "Der Start der neuen Serie war ein großer Erfolg."
  The launch of the new series was a big success.

• "Wann ist der Startschuss für das Rennen?"
  When’s the starting signal for the race?

• "Ich hatte einen holprigen Start in die Woche."
  I had a rough start to the week.

Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)

Lena: Bist du nervös vor dem Lauf?
Emre: Ein bisschen. Der Start ist in zehn Minuten.
Lena: Viel Glück! Gib dein Bestes!
Emre: Danke – ich hoffe, der Start klappt gut.

Translation:
Lena: Are you nervous before the run?
Emre: A little. The start is in ten minutes.
Lena: Good luck! Do your best!
Emre: Thanks—I hope the start goes well.

Grammatical case examples

Nominative:
Der Start war beeindruckend.
The start was impressive.

Accusative:
Ich habe den Start verpasst.
I missed the start.

Dative:
Mit dem Start hat niemand gerechnet.
No one expected the start to happen.

Genitive:
Der Zeitpunkt des Starts wurde geändert.
The time of the start was changed.

Word variations and language tidbits

• Startbahn – runway

• Start-up – start-up company (same as in English)

• Startgeld – entry fee for a race or competition

• Startfeld – starting lineup

• Startseite – homepage (literally: “start page” of a website)

🏁 Fun fact: In casual German, you might hear “Ich bin am Start” to mean “I’m ready” or “I’m here and involved.” It’s especially common in younger crowds and pop culture.

📘 Duden entry: https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Start
🎥 Ready to make a strong Start with your German? Our free video course teaches the 1000 most common German nouns with examples, grammar support, and practical usage that sticks.

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