We talk about strength all the time — physical strength, inner strength, mental strength, political power. If you want to express all of these in German, you need to learn the word for strength in German. It's short, powerful, and one of those words you’ll hear everywhere once you know it.
The word is Kraft — pronounced “krahft,” rhyming with raft. It’s sharp and strong, just like its meaning.
Kraft is feminine, so it’s die Kraft. The plural is die Kräfte. You can get a quick, clear explanation of German gender and article patterns in my gender video lesson.
Kraft is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, thanks to its versatility — used in everything from workouts to politics, from spirituality to fairy tales.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:
Die Kraft eines Gewitters ist beeindruckend.
The strength of a thunderstorm is impressive.
Accusative:
Ich brauche die Kraft, um das zu schaffen.
I need the strength to manage that.
Dative:
Er arbeitet mit großer Kraft.
He works with great strength.
Genitive:
Der Verlust der Kraft war deutlich spürbar.
The loss of strength was clearly noticeable.
Real-World Tips for Learners
Kraft shows up in both concrete and abstract ways. Physically, it means “force” or “power.” Emotionally, it’s “strength” in the sense of resilience. You’ll also find it in compound words like:
die Muskelkraft – muscular strength
die Willenskraft – willpower
die Arbeitskraft – workforce
außer Kraft setzen – to suspend (e.g. a law or rule)
in Kraft treten – to come into force (often legal/political)
You can also hear Kraft in phrases like Ich habe keine Kraft mehr (I don’t have any strength left) or Sie hat erstaunliche innere Kraft (She has amazing inner strength). The plural Kräfte is often used in political or mystical contexts — übernatürliche Kräfte means supernatural forces.
Beginner dialogue using Kraft:
A: Wie war dein Training?
B: Anstrengend! Ich habe meine ganze Kraft gebraucht.
A: How was your workout?
B: Exhausting! I needed all my strength.
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Kraft.
“Wann hast du das letzte Mal deine ganze Kraft gebraucht – und warum?”
When was the last time you needed all your strength — and why?
Say your answer out loud in German and include Kraft in the sentence.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say strength in German — and how die Kraft connects to energy, resolve, and the power to act.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German to grow your vocabulary with purpose and clarity.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Kram — perfect for describing messy belongings or vague topics.
Or revisit Krankenhaus — a must-have for talking about health and care. And do you know the word Koffer?