How do you say Stuff in German?

When Germans talk about random things, tools, personal belongings, or even nonsense, they often use the word Zeug. It’s informal, flexible, and everywhere - from garages to schoolbags to annoyed conversations.

The noun Zeug means stuff, gear, things, or junk, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. It’s a catch-all word you’ll hear in casual speech all the time.

It’s a neuter noun, so we say das Zeug.

Pronunciation

Zeug is pronounced [tsoyk] (like “toy” with ts- in front and -k at the end).

• The Z is pronounced “ts,”
• The eu sounds like “oy,”
• The final g is pronounced like a k
• One strong syllable: tsoyk

It sounds quick and slightly messy - just like the things it usually refers to.

Example sentences:

• Räum dein ganzes Zeug vom Tisch!Clear all your stuff off the table!
• Ich pack mein Zeug und geh.I’m grabbing my stuff and leaving.

Nuance and usage tips

Zeug originally meant tools or equipment, and over time it became a general term for “things” - often informal or slightly dismissive. Depending on context, it can mean:

1. Belongings / gear / tools
   • Schulzeug - school stuff
   • Küchenzeug - kitchen tools
   • Angelzeug - fishing gear
2. Unspecified “stuff”
   • Kram and Zeug are often used interchangeably
   • Das ist alles nur altes Zeug. - That’s all just old junk.
3. Something annoying or silly
   • Lass dein blödes Zeug! - Quit your nonsense!
   • Was ist das für ein Zeug? - What kind of nonsense is that?
4. Noun-building suffix
   • Werkzeug - tool
   • Spielzeug - toy
   • Flugzeug - airplane
   • Feuerzeug - lighter

Related words: nichts means nothing; Ordnung means order and System means system. Ordnung and System are not antonyms of Zeug.