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 [VOON-der].
- 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:
- Religious or medical miracle
- Wunderheilung – miraculous healing
- ein göttliches Wunder – a divine miracle
- 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)
- Idiomatic expressions
- kein Wunder – no wonder
- Wunder geschehen – miracles happen
- ein Wunderkind – child prodigy
Its antonym might be Katastrophe (catastrophe), Unglück (misfortune), or simply Alltag (the everyday).
Grammatical case examples:
- Nominative:
Das Wunder wurde von allen gefeiert.
The miracle was celebrated by everyone. - Accusative:
Ich habe das Wunder selbst gesehen.
I saw the miracle myself. - Dative:
Mit dem Wunder kam neue Hoffnung.
With the miracle came new hope. - Genitive:
Wegen des Wunders änderte sich alles.
Because of the miracle, everything changed.
Neuter case pattern: das, das, dem, des
Word variations and language tidbits
Variation Station:
- Wunderbar – wonderful
- Wundermittel – miracle cure
- Wunderkind – prodigy
- Wundertuete – surprise bag / grab bag
- Wunderwerk – marvel / masterpiece
- Wunderwaffe – wonder weapon (often ironic or historical)
Fun cultural note:
The phrase Das Wunder von Bern is famous in Germany—referring to West Germany’s shock World Cup victory in 1954, just nine years after WWII. It became symbolic of national recovery and unity, and is still referenced in sports and media.
📘 Duden entry: https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Wunder
🎥 Learn Wunder and the rest of the top 1000 German nouns in our free online video course:
https://deutschable.com/nouns/
Alternate translations note:
In more poetic or fairy-tale settings, Wunder means “wonder” in the sense of something magical or astonishing. For everyday curiosity, Frage (question) or Neugier (curiosity) might fit better. But when the improbable happens—beautiful, surreal, or divine—Wunder is the perfect word.
Ready for more German words of the day? Do you know what Arsch means? How about Auftrag? Find out!