Trash may not be the most glamorous topic — but it’s a word that comes up all the time in everyday life. From household chores to environmental discussions, learning how to say trash in German helps you express practical needs, civic habits, and frustration too.

The word is der Müll. It’s masculine, and it doesn’t have a plural form. If gender still feels tricky, my gender video lesson can help you understand articles like der clearly.

Müll is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it shows up in conversations at home, in the office, and even in politics.

Simple examples in all four cases:

Nominative:
Der Müll stinkt.
The trash stinks.

Accusative:
Ich bringe den Müll raus.
I’m taking out the trash.

Dative:
Was ist im Müll?
What’s in the trash?

Genitive:
Die Farbe des Mülls ist grau.
The color of the trash is gray.

Common phrases and expressions with Müll:

• den Müll rausbringen – to take out the trash

• der Müllsack – trash bag

• die Mülltonne – trash can / bin

• Hausmüll / Biomüll / Plastikmüll – household, organic, plastic waste

• zu viel Müll produzieren – to produce too much waste

• Müll trennen – to separate trash (recycling)

Verbs: rausbringen, entsorgen (dispose), trennen, produzieren, wegwerfen (throw away)
Adjectives: viel, wenig, gefährlich (hazardous), giftig (toxic), recycelbar (recyclable)

You’ll see this word everywhere in Germany — especially because recycling and waste sorting are taken seriously here.

Beginner dialogue using Müll:

A: Hast du den Müll schon rausgebracht?
B: Nein, ich mach das gleich.
A: Did you take the trash out yet?
B: No, I’ll do it in a second.

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

“Wie trennst du deinen Müll — und warum ist das wichtig?”
How do you separate your trash — and why is it important?

Speak your answer out loud and use Müll actively — it’s a word you’ll use more often than you expect.

Duden entry for “Müll”

German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say trash in German — and how der Müll helps you handle daily routines, responsibilities, and real-world speech.

Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and keep building vocabulary that works in daily life.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Motorrad — and talk about travel, speed, and freedom.
Or revisit Munition — and explore tense topics in both literal and metaphorical language.