In German, the word for master isn’t just about dominance or victory — it’s a real title, a job qualification, a compliment, and a key part of everyday language. Whether you’re talking about skilled tradespeople, champions, or someone who really knows what they’re doing, you’ll want to know how to say master in German.
The word is der Meister. It’s masculine, and the plural is die Meister. If gender patterns like der still trip you up sometimes, my gender video lesson will help make them much easier to learn.
Meister is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it appears in trades, sports, culture, and even job titles.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:
Der Meister hat viel Erfahrung.
The master has a lot of experience.
Accusative:
Ich bewundere den Meister.
I admire the master.
Dative:
Ich habe dem Meister eine Frage gestellt.
I asked the master a question.
Genitive:
Die Technik des Meisters ist beeindruckend.
The master's technique is impressive.
Where you’ll hear Meister:
Handwerksmeister – certified master in a trade
Weltmeister – world champion
Meisterschaft – championship
Meisterwerk – masterpiece
Kammermeister – title in historic or musical contexts
In Germany’s dual education system, becoming a Meister in a skilled trade (like plumbing, carpentry, or baking) is a formal qualification that allows someone to run a business and train apprentices. In sports, Meister is used for national or world champions.
Common verbs: werden (become), sein (be), besiegen (defeat), trainieren (train), bewundern (admire)
Adjectives: erfahren (experienced), technisch, echt, offiziell, geschickt (skilled)
Idiomatic uses:
Er ist ein wahrer Meister seines Fachs. – He’s a true master of his craft.
Den Meister machen – to complete a professional certification
Beginner dialogue using Meister:
A: Wer hat das Turnier gewonnen?
B: Der neue Meister aus Berlin!
A: Who won the tournament?
B: The new champion from Berlin!
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Meister.
“Wofür würdest du gern als Meister gelten — und warum?”
What would you like to be considered a master of — and why?
This helps you build not just vocabulary, but also confidence in expressing ideas.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say master in German — and how der Meister expresses skill, certification, excellence, and pride.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and keep leveling up your German — word by word.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Meile — and explore distance in both literal and symbolic ways.
Or revisit Meinung — and learn how to express your thoughts clearly and naturally.