Sometimes you’re cheerful, sometimes you’re grumpy — and sometimes you just need a good word for it. Let’s talk about mood in German, a word that lets you express your emotional weather forecast.

The German noun is die Laune. It’s feminine, and the plural is die Launen. It refers to temporary emotional states — not your overall personality, but whether you're having a good day or a bad one. If you’re still learning when to use die, der, or das, check out my gender video lesson for clear, visual help.

Laune is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it's essential for real conversations — especially when talking about how you or someone else is feeling in the moment.

Examples in all four cases:

Nominative:
Die Laune ist heute gut.
The mood is good today.

Accusative:
Ich habe die Laune verdorben.
I ruined the mood.

Dative:
Mit der Laune kann ich nicht arbeiten.
I can't work with that mood.

Genitive:
Die Ursache der Laune ist unklar.
The cause of the mood is unclear.

Real-World Tips for Learners

Laune is often paired with gut (good) or schlecht (bad):

• Ich bin heute nicht in guter Laune – I'm not in a good mood today

• Gute Laune! – Good vibes! (also used as a standalone cheer)

But here's a common pitfall: Don’t confuse Laune with Stimmung. Both mean mood, but Stimmung is broader — it can refer to the vibe of a place or group. Laune is more personal and emotional, specific to an individual’s mood.

In casual speech, people often say:

• Ich hab’ voll die schlechte Laune. – I'm in such a bad mood.

• Warum hast du so eine Laune? – Why are you in such a mood?

You'll also encounter it in combinations like:

• Launenhaft – moody

• Launen der Natur – quirks of nature

• Gute-Laune-Musik – feel-good music

Beginner dialogue using Laune:

A: Du siehst müde aus. Alles okay?
B: Ach, ich habe heute einfach keine gute Laune.
A: You look tired. Everything okay?
B: Eh, I’m just not in a good mood today.

Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Laune.

“Was bringt dich sofort in gute Laune — und warum?”
What instantly puts you in a good mood — and why?

Take a second to really connect the word to something real in your life.

Duden entry for “Laune”

German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say mood in German — and how die Laune helps you express your emotional state with authenticity and flair.

Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and keep building a vocabulary you’ll actually use.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Mann — for a core word in everyday talk and relationships.
Or revisit Laster — for double meanings and language full of character.