It’s what no one wants to be called—whether it’s after a game, a bet, or a breakup. In German, it’s der Verlierer. This is your German word of the day, and while it can sting, it’s also a practical word to know when talking about winners and losers, setbacks, or even competition.

The noun Verlierer means loser, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. You’ll see it in sports, economics, politics, and yes—sometimes in playground insults.

It’s a masculine noun, so we say der Verlierer (still unsure about gender? Our straightforward video lesson will help you figure it out fast: https://deutschable.com/course/lesson-3-3/).

Pronunciation

Verlierer is pronounced [fer-LEE-rer].

• Ver like “fair,”
• lier rhymes with “near,”
• The second er is soft and unstressed,
• Stress is on the second syllable: ver-LIE-rer

It sounds a little drawn out—maybe because nobody wants to hear it.

Example sentences:

Er war der klare Verlierer des Spiels.
He was the clear loser of the game.

In der Krise gab es viele wirtschaftliche Verlierer.
There were many economic losers in the crisis.

Nuance and usage tips

Verlierer isn’t just a schoolyard insult. It also appears in formal or analytical contexts:

1. Literal / competitive – in games, sports, elections
   • Der Gewinner bekommt den Pokal, der Verlierer geht leer aus.
     The winner gets the trophy; the loser walks away with nothing.
2. Economic or political – someone negatively affected
   • Verlierer der Globalisierung – losers of globalization
3. Figurative / emotional – often used critically or dramatically
   • Sie fühlte sich wie eine Verliererin. – She felt like a loser.
     (feminine: die Verliererin)

It’s also often contrasted with:

• der Gewinner – the winner
• der Außenseiter – the outsider
• der Pechvogel – the unlucky one (less harsh)

How does this word come up in real conversations?

You’ll hear Verlierer in competitive contexts or in heated moments—sometimes seriously, sometimes teasingly.

“Ich bin immer der Verlierer bei diesem Spiel!” – I always lose this game!
“Wir müssen auch an die Verlierer denken.” – We also need to think of those who lost out.

Caution: used directly, it can sound harsh—context and tone really matter.

Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)

Lukas: Und? Wer hat gewonnen?
Selin: Nicht ich… ich war der Verlierer.
Lukas: Ach, nächstes Mal klappt’s bestimmt!
Selin: Hoffentlich. Ich brauch ein bisschen Glück!

Lukas: So? Who won?
Selin: Not me… I was the loser.
Lukas: Ah, next time it'll work out!
Selin: Hopefully. I need a bit of luck!

Grammatical case examples:

Nominative:
Der Verlierer war enttäuscht.
The loser was disappointed.

Accusative:
Sie tröstete den Verlierer.
She comforted the loser.

Dative:
Mit dem Verlierer sprach niemand.
No one spoke with the loser.

Genitive:
Die Reaktion des Verlierers war überraschend ruhig.
The loser’s reaction was surprisingly calm.

Masculine case pattern: der, den, dem, des

Word variations and language tidbits

Common collocations and expressions:

• glücklicher Verlierer – gracious loser
• sich wie ein Verlierer fühlen – to feel like a loser
• kein echter Verlierer sein – not really be a loser
• Verlierer der Woche – loser of the week (e.g. in news or sports)

Interesting cultural note: In many German contexts, Verlierer isn't thrown around as casually as in English slang—it often carries a bit more weight, especially outside of jokes or games.

📘 Duden entry: https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Verlierer
🎥 Learn Verlierer and the rest of the top 1000 German nouns in our free online video course: https://deutschable.com/nouns/

Looking for more German Words of the Day?
Let's check out Verschwendung and Version. Oh, and do you know how to say wish, week, or effect in German? Let's find out!