Whether it’s hunger, butterflies, or pain — when something’s happening inside, you’ll need the word for stomach in German. This one’s all over daily life, health talk, and even emotions.
The German word is der Magen. It’s masculine, and the plural die Mägen is rare, mostly found in medical contexts. If you need help locking down which article to use, my gender video lesson explains it clearly and quickly.
Magen is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it’s often heard in doctor’s offices, pharmacies, and expressions about mood or instinct.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:
Der Magen knurrt.
The stomach is growling.
Accusative:
Ich habe den Magen verdorben.
I gave myself a stomachache.
Dative:
Mit dem Magen stimmt etwas nicht.
Something’s not right with the stomach.
Genitive:
Die Schmerzen des Magens sind stark.
The stomach’s pain is severe.
Real-World Tips for Learners
Magen is mostly used in formal or anatomical contexts — especially in compound words and health-related expressions. In everyday language, Germans might just say Bauch (belly) instead. But Magen appears in many fixed phrases and useful situations:
Magenschmerzen – stomach pain
Magen-Darm-Grippe – stomach flu
Magenverstimmung – upset stomach
etwas schlägt auf den Magen – something upsets you (literally or emotionally)
ein flauer Magen – queasy stomach
Note: The phrase aus dem Bauch heraus (from the gut) is more idiomatic for talking about instinct or feelings, but Magen still shows up when discussing physical or emotional reactions in a more medical or serious tone.
Beginner dialogue using Magen:
A: Willst du etwas essen?
B: Lieber nicht. Mein Magen tut weh.
A: Do you want something to eat?
B: Better not. My stomach hurts.
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Magen.
“Wann hattest du das letzte Mal Probleme mit dem Magen — und warum?”
When was the last time you had stomach trouble — and why?
Reflecting with real experiences makes the vocabulary stick.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say stomach in German — and how der Magen shows up in health, discomfort, and emotional life.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and grow your vocabulary with the words that really matter.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Laune — and learn to describe feelings with style.
Or revisit Mann — for a simple word with big meaning in everyday life.