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] (rhymes with bike).
- The Z is pronounced “ts,”
- The eu sounds like “oy,”
- The g at the end is very soft or sometimes almost 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:
- Belongings / gear / tools
- Schulzeug – school stuff
- Küchenzeug – kitchen tools
- Angelzeug – fishing gear
- Unspecified “stuff”
- Kram and Zeug are often used interchangeably
- Das ist alles nur altes Zeug. – That’s all just old junk.
- Something annoying or silly
- Lass dein blödes Zeug! – Quit your nonsense!
- Was ist das für ein Zeug? – What kind of nonsense is that?
- Noun-building suffix
- Werkzeug – tool
- Spielzeug – toy
- Flugzeug – airplane
- Feuerzeug – lighter
Its antonym might be nichts (nothing), or if you’re talking about tools: Ordnung (order) or System.
Grammatical case examples:
- Nominative:
Das Zeug liegt überall herum.
The stuff is lying around everywhere. - Accusative:
Ich habe das ganze Zeug weggeworfen.
I threw away all the stuff. - Dative:
Mit dem Zeug kannst du nichts anfangen.
You can’t do anything with that stuff. - Genitive:
Wegen des Zeugs hat sie sich verspätet.
She was late because of the stuff.
Neuter case pattern: das, das, dem, des
Word variations and language tidbits
Variation Station:
- Werkzeug – tool
- Spielzeug – toy
- Putzzeug – cleaning supplies
- Bastelzeug – craft materials
- Schreibzeug – writing tools
- Zeugnis – report card or testimony (a related but distinct word!)
Fun idiomatic note:
When someone says:
„Ich hab mein ganzes Zeug im Auto.“
“I’ve got all my stuff in the car.”
…it can mean anything from clothes and laptops to musical instruments or survival gear—context is everything.
📘 Duden entry: https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Zeug
🎥 Learn Zeug and the rest of the top 1000 German nouns in our free online video course:
https://deutschable.com/nouns/
Alternate translations note:
For more specific “stuff,” Germans might use Sachen (things), Kram (junk), or Ausrüstung (equipment). But when you’re being casual, vague, or just can’t be bothered to list it all—Zeug is your best friend.
Ready for more German words of the day? Do you know what Zigarette means? How about Zimmer? Find out!