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Household objects in German: 40 words to know

Last updated July 7, 2026 · 7 min read

Here are 40 essential German household words, each with its der/die/das article and plural form. The list covers furniture, bedroom and bathroom items, and everyday fixtures — das Bett (bed), der Schlüssel (key), die Fernbedienung (remote control) — with a pronunciation guide so you can say each one, not just read it.

GermanPluralPronunciationEnglish
das Sofadie SofasZOH-fahsofa / couch
der Sesseldie SesselZESS-elarmchair
das Kissendie KissenKISS-encushion
die Deckedie DeckenDECK-ehblanket
der Teppichdie TeppicheTEP-ikhrug / carpet
die Lampedie LampenLAHM-pehlamp
der Fernseherdie FernseherFAIRN-zay-ertelevision
die Fernbedienungdie FernbedienungenFAIRN-beh-DEE-noongremote control
das Bettdie BettenBETbed
das Kopfkissendie KopfkissenKOPF-kiss-enpillow
die Bettdeckedie BettdeckenBET-deck-ehcomforter / duvet
der Kleiderschrankdie KleiderschränkeKLY-der-shrahnkwardrobe / closet
die Schubladedie SchubladenSHOOP-lah-dehdrawer
der Spiegeldie SpiegelSHPEE-gelmirror
die Duschedie DuschenDOO-shehshower
die Badewannedie BadewannenBAH-deh-vah-nehbathtub
das Handtuchdie HandtücherHAHNT-tookhtowel
die Zahnbürstedie ZahnbürstenTSAHN-buer-stehtoothbrush
die Toilettedie Toilettentoy-LET-ehtoilet
der Besendie BesenBAY-zenbroom
der Staubsaugerdie StaubsaugerSHTOWP-zow-gervacuum cleaner
der Eimerdie EimerEYE-merbucket
der Mülleimerdie MülleimerMUEL-eye-mertrash can
die Waschmaschinedie WaschmaschinenVAHSH-mah-SHEE-nehwashing machine
der Wäschetrocknerdie WäschetrocknerVESH-eh-TROCK-nerdryer
das Bügeleisendie BügeleisenBUE-gel-eye-zeniron
der Schlüsseldie SchlüsselSHLUE-selkey
die Türdie TürenTUERdoor
das Fensterdie FensterFEN-sterwindow
der Vorhangdie VorhängeFOR-hahngcurtain
die Steckdosedie SteckdosenSHTECK-doh-zehelectrical outlet
der Schalterdie SchalterSHAHL-terswitch
die Glühbirnedie GlühbirnenGLUE-beer-nehlightbulb
der Regenschirmdie RegenschirmeRAY-gen-sheermumbrella
die Uhrdie UhrenOORclock
der Weckerdie WeckerVECK-eralarm clock
das Bücherregaldie BücherregaleBUE-kher-ray-GAHLbookshelf
die Pflanzedie PflanzenPFLAHN-tsehplant
der Papierkorbdie Papierkörbepah-PEER-korpwastebasket
die Kerzedie KerzenKAIR-tsehcandle
Compound nouns hide two familiar words. Der Kleiderschrank (wardrobe) is Kleider (clothes) + Schrank (cabinet) — literally a "clothes cabinet." Das Kopfkissen (pillow) is Kopf (head) + Kissen (cushion) — a "head cushion." Once you know the pieces, the compound stops being a wall of letters and starts being two words stuck together.

Phrases you can actually say

  1. Der Fernseher steht im Wohnzimmer. — The TV is in the living room.
  2. Wo ist die Fernbedienung? — Where's the remote control?
  3. Ich mache das Bett mit der Bettdecke. — I'm making the bed with the comforter.
  4. Der Schlüssel liegt auf dem Tisch. — The key is on the table.
  5. Kannst du das Fenster schließen? — Can you close the window?
  6. Der Staubsauger steht im Schrank. — The vacuum cleaner is in the closet.
  7. Ich hänge das Handtuch im Bad auf. — I'm hanging the towel in the bathroom.
  8. Die Lampe im Schlafzimmer ist kaputt. — The lamp in the bedroom is broken.

Catch them instead of memorizing them

A list like this is a starting point, not the finish line. The fastest way to make these words — and their articles — stick is to photograph the actual objects around your home. Point your camera at your key, your towel, your lamp, and CatchFrase names it in German with the article already attached, reads it aloud, and builds an example sentence around it, so der/die/das arrives glued to the object instead of memorized from a table.

Each catch becomes a collectible card with the word, its plural, a phrase, audio, and a spot in your review queue. Spaced-repetition review (CatchFrase calls it smart review) brings each word back just before you'd forget it, so this list doesn't have to be re-read cold next week.

Being honest about the free tier: it's 10 catches a day, so one full room — bed, pillow, comforter, wardrobe, mirror, lamp, curtain, and the rest — takes about 4 days at that pace. That's still faster than most people build a room's worth of German vocabulary any other way, and there's no account required to start.

Common questions

Do all German plurals really take the same article?

Yes — whatever a noun's singular article, der, die, or das, the plural article is always die. Der Wecker becomes die Wecker, das Fenster becomes die Fenster. You still have to learn the plural form, but the article stops being a guessing game.

Do I need to memorize all 40 words before I start?

No. Learn a handful, use them while you're actually moving around your home, and let the rest come from the objects you touch as you need them. Vocabulary tied to something in front of you sticks better than a list studied cold.

Is CatchFrase free to use for this?

Yes. The free tier includes 10 catches a day, a 75-card collection, and daily review — enough to work through a room's worth of objects over a few days. CatchFrase Plus adds unlimited catches and deeper practice.

Your home is 40 words waiting to be caught.

Free to start — 10 catches a day, no account needed. Photos never leave your phone except to name the word.

Get CatchFraseon the App Store

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