21 December 2025
How do you say sting or stab in German?
The German word for sting or stab is der Stich.You’ll hear it when talking about insect bites, small wounds, sewing, and even emotional jabs. It’s compact, vivid, and incredibly versatile.
Stich is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German - and it’s a word you’ll want in your mental first-aid kit.
Gender and Pronunciation
It’s a masculine noun: der Stich.Need help making gender stick for good? Our video lesson makes it intuitive and unforgettable.
Pronunciation:Stich is pronounced [ʃtɪç]
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“sht” like in “shtick”
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“ich” - short i, then the soft ch of German “ich” (not the throaty “loch” sound)One syllable: SHTICH
Example sentences
Der Mückenstich juckt wie verrückt.
The mosquito bite itches like crazy.
Ich habe einen Stich im Rücken gespürt.
I felt a sharp pain in my back.
Sein Kommentar war ein echter Stich ins Herz.
His comment was a real stab to the heart.
Nuance and usage tips
🦟 Stich is most commonly used to describe a sting or bite, especially from insects - Mückenstich (mosquito bite), Bienenstich (bee sting), or Wespenstich (wasp sting).
🪡 It’s also used in sewing, where Stich refers to a stitch - Kreuzstich (cross-stitch), Geradstich (straight stitch), etc.
⚔️ In emotional or metaphorical uses, ein Stich ins Herz can describe something deeply painful - physically or emotionally.
📸 In the world of art and printing, Stich can even mean an etching or engraving-Kupferstich being a copper engraving. And in card games like Skat, a Stich is a trick.
How does this word come up in real conversations?
“Hast du einen Stich oder nur einen Kratzer?”
Is it a sting or just a scratch?
“Der Stich ist ganz rot und dick geworden.”
The sting has become really red and swollen.
“Das war ein richtiger Stich, was er da gesagt hat.”
That really stung, what he said.
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Anna: Was ist mit deinem Arm?Leo: Ich glaub, das war ein Mückenstich.Anna: Sieht nach Allergie aus. Juckt es?Leo: Und wie! Ich hol Fenistil.
Translation:Anna: What’s with your arm?Leo: I think it was a mosquito bite.Anna: Looks like an allergy. Does it itch?Leo: Oh yes! I’m getting some anti-itch cream.
Grammatical case examples
Nominative:Der Stich ist schmerzhaft.
The sting is painful.
Accusative:Ich habe den Stich kaum gespürt.
I barely felt the sting.
Dative:Mit dem Stich kam auch Schwindel.
With the sting came dizziness.
Genitive:Die Folgen des Stiches waren stark.
The effects of the sting were severe.
Other ways to say sting or stab in German
While Stich is the most common way to say sting or stab in German, the verb forms will vary. To say “to sting,” Germans use stechen - die Mücke sticht (the mosquito stings). For something more like a stab or a jab with a knife or object, Stich as a noun works, but verbs like stechen, zustechen, or einstechen are used to describe the action. Emotional or figurative stabs might also be expressed using Verletzung (injury) or Seelenqual (soul-pain), but Stich remains the most vivid, compact noun.
Word variations and tidbits
There are many contexts where Stich shows up in compound words. In medicine and emergencies, you’ll hear Stichwunde (stab wound). In embroidery, there’s Zierstich (decorative stitch), and in German baking, Bienenstich is also a beloved cake layered with cream and almonds. Metaphorically, Germans often say ein Stich ins Herz, jemanden im Stich lassen (to let someone down, to leave them in the lurch - one of the most common Stich phrases), or einen Stich haben (colloquial: to be a bit crazy - or, of food, to be slightly off: Die Milch hat einen Stich).
🧠 Fun fact: The word Stich shares roots with the German verb stechen, which has been around since Old High German. It’s also related to the English “stick,” and the sense of a pointed, piercing motion runs through every meaning.
📘 Duden entry for Stich🎥 Want to stop guessing and start knowing? Our free video course covers the top 1000 German nouns, each with sharp examples and real-life uses.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?Do you know what Stiefel means? It’s a perfect fit for cold-weather conversation.And what about Stoff? That’s the kind of material you build fluency with.
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