So Germany won the 2014 World Cup!

If you’ve already talked to your German friends about German movies or music, why not talk about football as well?

There’s no better time to add football words to your German vocabulary!





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The Ultimate German Vocabulary Word List For Soccer & the World Cup

Abwehrspieler (m.): Defender

A defender is a player who tries to stop the other team from scoring a goal.

Hans ist ein Abwehrspieler in meiner Fußballmannschaft.

Hans is a defender in my football team.

Anstoß (m.): Kick-off

When the game begins.

Der Anstoß der Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft ist Heute.

The kick-off to the football World Cup is today!

Anzeigetafel (f.): Scoreboard

Um den Spielstand zu wissen, musst du die Anzeigetafel angucken.

To know the score, you must look at the scoreboard.

Auswärts Spiel (n.): Away Game

A game played not in a team’s home stadium.

Hertha BSCs Auswärts Spiel wird in München sein.

Hertha BSC’s away game will be in Munich.

Auswechselspieler (m.): Substitute

Max spielt später. Er ist ein Auswechselspieler.

Max will play later. He is a substitute.

Aus (n.): an Out

When the ball is outside the marked game field

Bei einem Aus hinter der Torlinie, kommt es darauf an, wer den Ball zuletzt berührt hat.

When an “out” is called for a ball that is behind the goal net, it depends on who touched the ball last.

Außenseiter (m.): Underdog

Im Spiel zwischen Mexiko und Ghana ist Ghana der Außenseiter.

In the game between Mexico and Ghana, Ghana is the underdog.

Eckball (m.): Corner kick

This is a free kick from any of the four corners of the pitch.

Das andere Team hat einen Eckball bekommen.

The other team got a corner kick.

Einwurf (v.): a Throw in

A type of restart where the player throws the ball from behind a sideline with both hands

Einwurf hat immer die Mannschaft, die nicht zuletzt am Ball war.

A throw in always goes to the team, that didn’t touch the ball last.

Elfmeter (m.): Penalty kick

A free kick for the team as a penalty to the opposing team.

Der Torwart hat sich bei einem Elfmeter nach vorne bewegt.

The goalkeeper moved forward during a penalty kick.

Endrunde (f.): The finals

The final/finishing rounds of a tournament that include the quarter and semi-finals.

Die Endrunde ist für mich immer so nervenaufreibend.

The finals are always so nerve-wracking for me.

Finale / Endspiel (n.): The final

The last match of the tournament to see who the winner of the championship will be.

Ich hoffe, Belgien qualifiziert sich für das Endspiel.

I hope Belgium qualifies for the final.

Fallrückzieher (m.): Bicycle kick

When the player kicks the ball backwards over his own head.

Ronaldo ist für seinen Fallrückzieher berühmt.

Ronaldo is famous for his bicycle kick.

Foul (m.): Foul

When a player does an illegal action such as touching the ball with their hands. They are punished and the other team is awarded a free kick.

Eine große Anzahl von Fußballverletzungen wird durch Foulspiel verursacht.

A great number of football injuries are caused by foul play.

Gastgeberland (n.): Host country

Dieses Jahr ist Brasilien das Gastgeberland.

This year, Brazil is the host country.

Gelbe Karte (f.): Yellow card

The first warning that is given to a player when they do something seriously wrong before receiving a red card.

Dem Spieler wird vom Schiedsrichter die Gelbe Karte gezeigt.

The player will be shown the yellow card by the referee.

Gewinnen (v.): To win

Frankreich wird diese Weltmeisterschaft gewinnen.

France will win this World Cup.

Halbfinale (n.): Semi-finals

A round of two games to see which two teams are going to qualify for the final.

2010 waren Spanien, die Niederlande, Deutschland, und Uruguay im Halbfinale.

In 2010, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, and Uruguay were in the semi-finals.

Halbzeit (f.): Half-time

Während der Halbzeit hat Maria viel Wasser getrunken.

During half-time, Maria drank a lot of water.

Handspiel (n.): Hand ball

This is a type of foul when a player touches the ball with his hand.

Das Handspiel beim Fußball ist ein Regelverstoß.

Handball during football is a breach of the rules.

Heimspiel (n.): Home game

Dieses Team gewinnt immer, wenn es ein Heimspiel spielt.

This Team always wins when it plays a home game.

Jdn. auf die Reservebank schicken (v.): To Bench sb.

Der Trainer wird Anna sicherlich auf die Reservebank schicken.

The coach will surely bench Anna.

Konkurrent (m.): Rival

Die Niederlande und Deutschland sind Konkurrenten.

The Netherlands and Germany are rivals.

Kopfball (m.): Header

When a player hits the ball with the head instead of the foot.

Einige Stürmer wie Stefan sind als Kopfball-Spezialisten bekannt.

Some strikers like Stefan are known as header specialists.

Linienrichter (m.): Assistant referee

This is the person who runs up and down the football field. Their job is to tell the referee if the ball goes out. They are also important when it comes to helping with offside decisions.

Der Linienrichter trägt immer eine bunte Fahne.

The assistant referee always carries a colorful flag.

Mannschaftskapitän (m.): Captain

Philipp Lahm ist der Mannschaftskapitän von Deutschland in dieser Weltmeisterschaft.

Philipp Lahm is Germany’s captain in this World Cup.

Mittelfeldspieler (m.): Midfielder

A player who usually stays in the middle of the field.

Mesut Özil ist einer der besten Mittelfeldspieler der Welt.

Mesut Özil is one of the best midfielders in the world.

Nationalhymne (f.): National anthem

Vor dem Spiel hört man die Nationalhymnen.

Before the game, one hears the national anthems.

Nationalmannschaft (f.): National team

Spaniens Nationalmannschaft ist echt gut!

Spain’s national team is really good!

Niederlage (f.): Defeat

Die Niederlage von Brasilien war eine Überraschung.

Brazil’s defeat was a surprise.

Pass (n.): Pass

Das Spiel mit Pässen ist für Ballsportarten typisch.

A game with passes is typical for ball sports.

Rote Karte (f.): Red Card

A punishment given by the referee. If a player does something bad, they are given a red card and sent off the field.

Der Schiedsrichter hat ihm die Rote Karte gezeigt.

The referee red-carded him.

Schiedsrichter (m.): Referee

Kann ein Schiedsrichter komplett fair sein?

Can a referee be entirely fair?

Schießen (v.): To kick

Bei der Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft 2010 wurden 150 Tore geschossen.

150 goals were scored [kicked] at the World Cup in 2010.

Sich qualifizieren: To qualify (oneself)

To be able to score enough wins or points to compete in the international event.

Dieses Jahr hat Uruguay sich für die Weltmeisterschaft qualifiziert.

This year Uruguay qualified for the World Cup.

Seitenlinie (f.): Sideline / Touchline

The longest sides of the pitch. These are also known as sidelines.

Der Ball rollt über die Seitenauslinie.

The ball rolls over the touchline.

Spiel (n.): Match, game

Wer wird das Spiel gewinnen?

Who will win the match?

Spielende (n.): End of Game (Full-time)

When the final whistle is blown and the game is over.

Der Schiedsrichter hat zum Spielende gepfiffen.

The referee blew the whistle at game end (full-time).

Spielfeld (n.): Playing field.

Das Spielfeld ist schlammig, weil es gestern geregnet hat.

The playing field is muddy because it rained yesterday.

Spielpaarung (f.): Fixture

The planned games.

Die erste Spielpaarungen in der Weltmeisterschaft sind zufällig ausgewählt.

The first fixtures at the World Cup are chosen at random.

Spielstand (m.): Score

Der Spielstand zwischen Spanien und England ist jetzt 2-1.

The score between Spain and England is 2-1 right now.

Spielverlängerung (f.): Extra-time

An important game is made longer when it finishes in a draw.

Die Dauer der Spielverlängerung ist 10 Minuten.

The duration of extra-time is 10 minutes.

Stürmer (m.): Striker

A player who kicks the goals.

Der Stürmer ist allein in der Nähe vom Tor.

The Striker is alone near the goal.

Tordifferenz (f.): Goal difference

The goal difference is the difference in points/goals between the two teams.

Zwischen Italien und Deutschland ist die Tordifferenz klein, weil die gut sind.

Between Italy and Germany, the goal difference is small because they are good.

Torpfosten (m): Goal post

Der Torwart ist für den Torpfosten verantwortlich.

The goalkeeper is responsible for the goal post.

Torwart (m.): Goalkeeper

Ein guter Torwart muß schnelle Reflexe haben.

A good goalkeeper must have fast reflexes.

Tribüne (f.): Stands

Die Tribüne ist neben dem Spielfeld.

The stands are next to the pitch.

Trikot (m.): Jersey

Im Stadion gibt es viele Menschen mit Trikots von Argentinien.

There are many people in the stadium with Argentina jerseys.

Trophäe (f.): Trophy

Wird Brasilien seine sechste Trophäe bekommen?

Will Brazil get its sixth trophy?

Umkleidekabine (f.): Locker room

Die Fußballspieler ziehen sich in der Umkleidekabine um.

The football players change in the locker room.

Unentschieden (n.): Draw

Das Team will ein Unentschieden vermeiden.

The Team wants to avoid a draw.

Viertelfinale (n.): Quarter-finals

The final four matches to see which teams will make it to the semi-finals.

Das Viertelfinale wird sicherlich spannend sein!

The quarter-finals will surely be exciting!

Vizemeister (m.) Runner-up

2006 war Frankreich der Vizemeister.

In 2006, France was the runner-up.

Zuschauer (m.) Spectator

Es gibt 2000 Zuschauer im Stadion.

There are 2000 spectators in the Stadium.





Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

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