21 December 2025
How do you say Vice and Truck in German?
Some German words carry double meanings - and vice in German is a great example. It’s a short, strong word that can describe moral weakness… or a massive truck.
Here’s the distinction: das Laster (neuter) means a vice or bad habit; der Laster (masculine) is a colloquial word for a truck, related to der Lastwagen. Both have the plural die Laster. In the nominative singular, the definite article distinguishes them: das Laster versus der Laster. With ein Laster, in the plural, or in forms such as dem Laster, context still decides.
Need help keeping articles and gender straight? My gender video lesson will help you lock it all in.
Laster is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and offers more than one route into meaningful conversation.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:Der Laster steht vor der Tür.The truck is parked outside.Das Laster ist schwer loszuwerden.The vice is hard to shake.
Accusative:Ich sehe den Laster auf der Straße.I see the truck on the road.Er versucht, sein Laster aufzugeben.He’s trying to give up his vice.
Dative:Ich fahre mit dem Laster zur Baustelle.I’m driving to the construction site with the truck.Sie hilft ihm, mit seinem Laster umzugehen.She helps him deal with his bad habit.
Genitive:Die Reifen des Lasters sind neu.The truck’s tires are new.Die Folgen des Lasters sind spürbar.The consequences of the vice are noticeable.
Where you’ll hear Laster:
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ein geheimes Laster - a secret vice
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ein kleines Laster - a guilty pleasure
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ein schweres Laster - a serious habit
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mit dem Laster fahren - to drive a truck
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sein einziges Laster ist Schokolade - his only vice is chocolate
Common verbs: haben (have), aufgeben (give up), bekämpfen (fight), verstecken (hide), gestehen (confess)Adjectives: alt, geheim, unangenehm, klein, verzeihlich
Der Laster is a colloquial word for a truck, not just a southern regional form. More neutral terms are der Lastwagen and der Lastkraftwagen, abbreviated der Lkw or der LKW.
Beginner dialogue using Laster:
A: Hast du ein Laster?B: Leider ja. Ich esse zu viele Chips!A: Do you have a vice?B: Unfortunately, yes. I eat too many chips!
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Laster.
“Was ist ein kleines Laster von dir - und warum ist es schwer, damit aufzuhören?”What’s a small vice of yours - and why is it hard to stop?
Let yourself speak freely - this is where language becomes real.
Duden entry for “Laster” Duden entry for “der Laster” (truck)
German Word of the DayNow you know how to say vice and truck in German: das Laster describes a vice or bad habit, while der Laster means a truck.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German to build your expressive power one word at a time.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?Check out Macht - and explore how influence and control work in German.Or revisit Liebling - for expressions of love and preference.
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