How do you say Wonder or Miracle in German?

Whether it’s a medical miracle, an unbelievable coincidence, or just a really good soccer goal - Germans call it a Wunder. It’s the word they use when something amazing, unlikely, or awe-inspiring happens.

The noun Wunder means miracle, wonder, or marvel, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. You’ll see it in religion, fairy tales, everyday amazement, and national history.

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

Pronunciation

Wunder is pronounced approximately [VUN-duh], with short u; final -er is often vocalized.

• The “W” sounds like an English “V”,
• The “u” like in “put,”
• The “er” at the end is soft, almost like “uh.”

It’s one of those words that even sounds like it has sparkles around it.

Example sentences:

• Es war ein Wunder, dass er überlebt hat.It was a miracle that he survived.
• Die Natur steckt voller Wunder.Nature is full of wonders.

Nuance and usage tips

Wunder is a versatile word:

1. Religious or medical miracle
   • Wunderheilung - miraculous healing
   • ein göttliches Wunder - a divine miracle
2. Amazing achievement or event
   • Wunder von Bern - “The Miracle of Bern” (Germany’s 1954 World Cup win)
   • Technikwunder - technological marvel
   • kleines Wunder - small miracle (used affectionately)
3. Idiomatic expressions
   • kein Wunder - no wonder
   • Wunder geschehen - miracles happen
     Wunder wirken - to work wonders
     sein blaues Wunder erleben - to be in for a nasty surprise
   • ein Wunderkind - child prodigy

Related contrasts: Katastrophe means catastrophe, Unglück means misfortune and Alltag means everyday life. They are not exact antonyms of Wunder.