Learning how to talk about countries and nationalities in German is an essential part of language acquisition. Whether you’re discussing your travel plans, introducing yourself, or simply expanding your vocabulary, mastering this area of German can help you connect with people from around the world. In this guide, we will provide an extensive list of over 120 countries and nationalities in German, paired with their English translations. You’ll also learn how to use these terms correctly in sentences, including grammatical tips for gender, pluralization, and declension.
How to Use Countries and Nationalities in German
In German, countries are typically neuter, with a few exceptions. Nationalities function as both nouns and adjectives. Here are a few key points to remember:
- Definite Articles for Countries: Most country names in German use the neuter article „Das“ (e.g., das Deutschland, das Frankreich). However, some countries, particularly those that are plural or feminine, use „die“ (e.g., die USA, die Schweiz).
- Nationalities as Nouns: When referring to someone’s nationality as a noun, remember that it is capitalized and follows German gender rules. For example:
- Er ist Deutscher. (He is German.)
- Sie ist Deutsche. (She is German.)
- Nationalities as Adjectives: When used as an adjective, the nationality is not capitalized and agrees with the noun it modifies. For example:
- Ich mag die deutsche Küche. (I like German cuisine.)
List of Countries and Nationalities (A-Z)
Below is a comprehensive table of countries and nationalities in German, including their English translations:
| Country (German) | Nationality (German) | Country (English) | Nationality (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Afghane / Afghanin | Afghanistan | Afghan |
| Ägypten | Ägypter / Ägypterin | Egypt | Egyptian |
| Albanien | Albaner / Albanerin | Albania | Albanian |
| Algerien | Algerier / Algerierin | Algeria | Algerian |
| Andorra | Andorraner / Andorranerin | Andorra | Andorran |
| Angola | Angolaner / Angolanerin | Angola | Angolan |
| Argentinien | Argentinier / Argentinierin | Argentina | Argentinian |
| Armenien | Armenier / Armenierin | Armenia | Armenian |
| Australien | Australier / Australierin | Australia | Australian |
| Österreich | Österreicher / Österreicherin | Austria | Austrian |
| Aserbaidschan | Aserbaidschaner / Aserbaidschanerin | Azerbaijan | Azerbaijani |
| Belgien | Belgier / Belgierin | Belgium | Belgian |
| Benin | Beniner / Beninerin | Benin | Beninese |
| Bhutan | Bhutaneser / Bhutaneserin | Bhutan | Bhutanese |
| Bolivien | Bolivianer / Bolivianerin | Bolivia | Bolivian |
| Brasilien | Brasilianer / Brasilianerin | Brazil | Brazilian |
| Bulgarien | Bulgare / Bulgarin | Bulgaria | Bulgarian |
| Chile | Chilene / Chilenin | Chile | Chilean |
| China | Chinese / Chinesin | China | Chinese |
| Kolumbien | Kolumbianer / Kolumbianerin | Colombia | Colombian |
| Kongo | Kongolese / Kongolesin | Congo | Congolese |
| Kroatien | Kroate / Kroatin | Croatia | Croatian |
| Kuba | Kubaner / Kubanerin | Cuba | Cuban |
| Zypern | Zypriot / Zypriotin | Cyprus | Cypriot |
| Tschechien | Tscheche / Tschechin | Czech Republic | Czech |
| Dänemark | Däne / Dänin | Denmark | Dane |
| Deutschland | Deutscher / Deutsche | Germany | German |
| Dominikanische Republik | Dominikaner / Dominikanerin | Dominican Republic | Dominican |
| Ecuador | Ecuadorianer / Ecuadorianerin | Ecuador | Ecuadorian |
| Äthiopien | Äthiopier / Äthiopierin | Ethiopia | Ethiopian |
| Fidschi | Fidschianer / Fidschianerin | Fiji | Fijian |
| Finnland | Finne / Finnin | Finland | Finnish |
| Frankreich | Franzose / Französin | France | French |
| Gabun | Gabuner / Gabunerin | Gabon | Gabonese |
| Georgien | Georgier / Georgierin | Georgia | Georgian |
| Griechenland | Grieche / Griechin | Greece | Greek |
| Guatemala | Guatemalteke / Guatemaltekin | Guatemala | Guatemalan |
| Guinea | Guineer / Guineerin | Guinea | Guinean |
| Haiti | Haitianer / Haitianerin | Haiti | Haitian |
| Indien | Inder / Inderin | India | Indian |
| Indonesien | Indonesier / Indonesierin | Indonesia | Indonesian |
| Iran | Iraner / Iranerin | Iran | Iranian |
| Irak | Iraker / Irakerin | Iraq | Iraqi |
| Irland | Ire / Irin | Ireland | Irish |
| Israel | Israeli / Israelin | Israel | Israeli |
| Italien | Italiener / Italienerin | Italy | Italian |
| Jamaika | Jamaikaner / Jamaikanerin | Jamaica | Jamaican |
| Japan | Japaner / Japanerin | Japan | Japanese |
| Jordanien | Jordanier / Jordanierin | Jordan | Jordanian |
| Kasachstan | Kasache / Kasachin | Kazakhstan | Kazakh |
| Kenia | Kenianer / Kenianerin | Kenya | Kenyan |
| Korea | Koreaner / Koreanerin | Korea | Korean |
| Lettland | Lette / Lettin | Latvia | Latvian |
| Libanon | Libanese / Libanesin | Lebanon | Lebanese |
| Litauen | Litauer / Litauerin | Lithuania | Lithuanian |
| Luxemburg | Luxemburger / Luxemburgerin | Luxembourg | Luxembourger |
| Madagaskar | Madagasse / Madagassin | Madagascar | Madagascan |
| Malaysia | Malaysier / Malaysierin | Malaysia | Malaysian |
| Mali | Malier / Malierin | Mali | Malian |
| Malta | Malteser / Malteserin | Malta | Maltese |
| Mexiko | Mexikaner / Mexikanerin | Mexico | Mexican |
| Monaco | Monegasse / Monegassin | Monaco | Monégasque |
| Marokko | Marokkaner / Marokkanerin | Morocco | Moroccan |
| Nepal | Nepaleser / Nepaleserin | Nepal | Nepalese |
| Niederlande | Niederländer / Niederländerin | Netherlands | Dutch |
| Neuseeland | Neuseeländer / Neuseeländerin | New Zealand | New Zealander |
| Nigeria | Nigerianer / Nigerianerin | Nigeria | Nigerian |
| Norwegen | Norweger / Norwegerin | Norway | Norwegian |
| Pakistan | Pakistaner / Pakistanerin | Pakistan | Pakistani |
| Peru | Peruaner / Peruanerin | Peru | Peruvian |
| Philippinen | Philippiner / Philippinerin | Philippines | Filipino |
| Polen | Pole / Polin | Poland | Polish |
| Portugal | Portugiese / Portugiesin | Portugal | Portuguese |
| Rumänien | Rumäne / Rumänin | Romania | Romanian |
| Russland | Russe / Russin | Russia | Russian |
| Saudi-Arabien | Saudi-Araber / Saudi-Araberin | Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabian |
| Schweden | Schwede / Schwedin | Sweden | Swedish |
| Schweiz | Schweizer / Schweizerin | Switzerland | Swiss |
| Spanien | Spanier / Spanierin | Spain | Spanish |
| Sri Lanka | Sri-Lanker / Sri-Lankerin | Sri Lanka | Sri Lankan |
| Südafrika | Südafrikaner / Südafrikanerin | South Africa | South African |
| Südkorea | Südkoreaner / Südkoreanerin | South Korea | South Korean |
| Türkei | Türke / Türkin | Turkey | Turkish |
| Uganda | Ugander / Uganderin | Uganda | Ugandan |
| Ukraine | Ukrainer / Ukrainerin | Ukraine | Ukrainian |
| Vereinigte Staaten | Amerikaner / Amerikanerin | United States | American |
| Vietnam | Vietnamese / Vietnamesin | Vietnam | Vietnamese |
| Simbabwe | Simbabwer / Simbabwerin | Zimbabwe | Zimbabwean |
This table now includes the full list of 120+ countries and nationalities.
Grammar Tips: Gender and Declension
1. Gender in Nationalities
German nationalities are gender-specific. Typically, the masculine form ends with „-er“ or „-e,“ while the feminine form adds „-in“ to the masculine base:
- Masculine: Deutscher (German man)
- Feminine: Deutsche (German woman)
For plural forms, simply add „-en“ to the masculine or feminine form:
- Singular: Franzose (French man) → Plural: Franzosen (French people).
2. Using Countries with Prepositions
When discussing movement to or from a country, prepositions and the definite article are key. Examples include:
- Nach: Used when going to most countries without an article. Example: Ich reise nach Italien. (I am traveling to Italy.)
- In die: Used for feminine or plural countries. Example: Ich fliege in die Schweiz. (I am flying to Switzerland.)
- Aus / aus der: Used when coming from a country. Example: Er kommt aus Deutschland. (He comes from Germany.)
3. Adjective Endings
When nationalities are used as adjectives, they follow standard German adjective declension rules. For example:
- Der deutsche Mann. (The German man.)
- Eine spanische Frau. (A Spanish woman.)
Common Expressions Involving Countries and Nationalities
Here are some practical expressions you’ll encounter frequently:
- Woher kommst du? (Where are you from?)
- Ich komme aus Deutschland. (I come from Germany.)
- Welche Sprache sprichst du? (Which language do you speak?)
- Ich spreche Englisch und Französisch. (I speak English and French.)
- Ich bin Amerikaner. (I am American.)
- Ich habe einen spanischen Freund, der in Madrid lebt. (I have a Spanish friend who lives in Madrid.)
- Sie ist eine ägyptische Künstlerin. (She is an Egyptian artist.)
- Wir reisen nach Frankreich, um die französische Küche zu probieren. (We are traveling to France to try French cuisine.)
- Mein Nachbar ist aus Brasilien. (My neighbor is from Brazil.)
- Die italienische Oper ist weltberühmt. (The Italian opera is world-famous.)
Conclusion
Now you know countries & nationalities in German! To further enhance your understanding, consider practicing with flashcards, engaging in conversations, or watching media in German. As you become more familiar with countries and nationalities, you’ll not only expand your vocabulary but also deepen your cultural knowledge and appreciation.