Whether you're looking for somewhere to sit, trying to save space in your bag, or standing in a famous city square, the word place is essential—and so is knowing how to say Place in German. Today’s German Word of the Day is der Platz, one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. If you’re going to describe where things are or where people go, this is a word you’ll hear and use constantly.

In German, Platz covers more ground than its English counterpart. It can mean a physical location (ein Platz auf dem Sofa), open space (viel Platz im Kofferraum), or even a position in a ranking (erster Platz im Wettbewerb). It’s a masculine noun—der Platz—and if gender in German still feels confusing, our quick video lesson will clear it up without bogging you down in grammar.

Pronounced plahts, it’s short and punchy. Don’t confuse it with der Teller (plate), which sounds similar to English but means something else entirely. In cities, you'll find the word in place names like Alexanderplatz in Berlin or Marienplatz in Munich. You might hear it in contexts like Ist hier noch Platz frei? (Is this seat free?) or Ich brauche mehr Platz im Koffer (I need more room in my suitcase).

There’s no exact opposite for Platz, but depending on the situation, a lack of it might be described as Enge (tightness), Überfüllung (overcrowding), or simply kein Platz mehr (no space left). The word shows up in compound forms like Spielplatz (playground), Parkplatz (parking spot), or Sitzplatz (seat), and in abstract phrases like seinen Platz im Leben finden (to find one’s place in life).

Example Sentences

Auf dem Konzert war kaum Platz zum Tanzen.
There was hardly any space to dance at the concert.

Sie suchten einen Platz zum Picknicken im Park.
They looked for a spot to have a picnic in the park.

Ich habe den letzten Platz im Bus bekommen.
I got the last seat on the bus.

Beginner Dialogue

Tim: Gibt es hier noch einen freien Platz?
Julia: Ja, bitte, setzen Sie sich.

Translation
Tim: Is there still a free seat here?
Julia: Yes, please, have a seat.

Duden entry:
https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Platz

Hungry for more vocabulary?
Check out President to learn the difference between power and position.
Or explore Police to understand authority, law, and order in everyday German.

Viel Erfolg beim Deutschlernen – and keep making room in your memory for essential words like Place in German.