Some words carry quiet emotional weight. Leid is one of them — a word that appears in apologies, sympathy, and expressions of pain. If you want to say you’re sorry, express grief, or understand what others feel, you need to learn how to say suffering in German.
The word is das Leid. It’s neuter, and it doesn’t have a plural form. You’ll see das Leid used in fixed phrases, emotional descriptions, and even in religious and poetic contexts.
Need help keeping your articles straight? My gender video lesson will walk you through everything you need to know.
Leid is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and while not as common in small talk, it’s essential for emotional understanding and polite conversation.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:
Das Leid war nicht zu ertragen.
The suffering was unbearable.
Accusative:
Er hat das Leid nicht verdient.
He didn’t deserve the suffering.
Dative:
Mit dem Leid kam auch die Wut.
With the suffering came the anger.
Genitive:
Die Folgen des Leids waren tief.
The consequences of the suffering were profound.
Real-World Tips for Learners
You’ll often see Leid in set expressions:
Es tut mir leid. – I’m sorry. (literally: it does me suffering)
jemandem Leid zufügen – to cause someone suffering
großes Leid – great suffering
Mitleid haben – to feel compassion / sympathy (literally: co-suffering)
leid tun – to cause sorrow or distress
The verb leidtun is deeply embedded in daily speech. For example:
Das tut mir leid. – I’m sorry (about that).
Hat es dir leid getan? – Did you feel bad about it?
This might surprise learners: Leid can also be used in almost ritualized apologies, like:
Tut mir leid, ich habe das vergessen. – Sorry, I forgot.
Another fixed construction to recognize is:
Es tut mir leid um ihn. – I feel sorry for him.
In contrast, the adjective leid (lowercase) appears in expressions like:
leid sein – to be tired of something
→ Ich bin es leid. – I’m fed up.
While this looks similar, leid as an adjective and das Leid as a noun are distinct, even though both convey burden or sorrow.
Beginner dialogue using Leid:
A: Tut es dir leid, dass du das gesagt hast?
B: Ja, ich wollte dich nicht verletzen.
A: Are you sorry you said that?
B: Yes, I didn’t mean to hurt you.
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Leid.
“Wann hast du zuletzt jemandem Leid getan — und warum?”
When was the last time you felt sorry for someone — and why?
Say your answer aloud in German, and make sure to use Leid in your response.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say suffering in German — and how das Leid helps you speak with compassion, express regret, or understand deeper feelings.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German to grow your vocabulary — including the quiet, powerful words.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Licht — and learn how to express brightness and emotion.
Or revisit Liebe — and speak from the heart.