German · Emotions & Descriptions
"Beautiful" in German: schön
schön
Beautiful in German is schön. It is a very common word that also means "nice" or "lovely", so you can use it for a view, the weather, or a good evening. Before a noun it takes an ending: eine schöne Stadt, ein schönes Haus.
Sightseeing
Die Aussicht von hier oben ist wirklich schön.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce schön
Say it
SHURN (no r sound)
/ʃøːn/
The ö is the tricky sound. Say the "ay" of "say", then round your lips as if to whistle, and keep your tongue where it was. "Shurn" said without any r gets you close. The sch is simply English "sh".
"Beautiful" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| schön | beautiful, nice, lovely The default, for people, places, weather, and experiences. | The default, for people, places, weather, and experiences. |
| wunderschön | stunning, gorgeous Stronger than schön, for a view or a very special moment. | Stronger than schön, for a view or a very special moment. |
| hübsch | pretty For people, clothes, and small things. A bit lighter than schön. | For people, clothes, and small things. A bit lighter than schön. |
| Wie schön! | How lovely! A warm reaction to good news or a nice surprise. | A warm reaction to good news or a nice surprise. |
How to use schön in real life
- 1Sightseeing
Die Aussicht von hier oben ist wirklich schön.
The view from up here is really beautiful.
After ist, schön has no ending.
- 2Small talk about the weather
Heute ist so ein schöner Tag, lass uns rausgehen!
It's such a beautiful day today, let's go outside!
Der Tag is masculine, so after ein the adjective ends in -er: ein schöner Tag.
- 3Leaving a dinner party
Danke für den schönen Abend!
Thanks for the lovely evening!
A very common way to thank your hosts when you leave.
Mistakes English speakers make with schön
Incorrect: Das ist ein schön Haus.
Correct: Das ist ein schönes Haus.
Before a noun, German adjectives need an ending. Das Haus is neuter, so after ein it is schönes.
Incorrect: Dein Bruder ist sehr schön.
Correct: Dein Bruder sieht sehr gut aus.
Schön is less common for men. Er sieht gut aus (he's good-looking) sounds more natural.
Good to know
Schön is one of the most useful words in everyday German. Shop staff say Schönen Tag noch! (Have a nice day!), and on Fridays everyone wishes you ein schönes Wochenende. Na schön means "fine, okay then", usually a little reluctantly. And schön can boost another word: schön warm means "nice and warm".
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Telling a friend in Stuttgart about your weekend trip
ChatPal
Na, wie war dein Wochenende am Bodensee?
So, how was your weekend at Lake Constance?
You
Total schön! Das Wetter war perfekt.
Really lovely! The weather was perfect.
ChatPal
Deine Fotos sind wunderschön. Ist das Lindau?
Your photos are gorgeous. Is that Lindau?
You
Ja! Im Sommer ist es dort besonders schön.
Yes! It's especially beautiful there in summer.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Beautiful" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Beautiful" in German
What is the difference between schön and schon?
Schön (with ö) means beautiful or nice. Schon (with o) means already, as in Bist du schon da? (Are you already there?). The dots change both the sound and the meaning.
Can I call a man schön in German?
You can, but it sounds poetic or unusual in daily speech. Most people say er sieht gut aus (he's good-looking) or er ist attraktiv.
Why does schön sometimes end in -e, -er, or -es?
Before a noun, the ending matches the noun's gender and case: der schöne Tag, eine schöne Stadt, ein schönes Haus. After sein there is no ending: Die Stadt ist schön.
How can I practice the ö in schön?
Start with the long vowel in the German word See, then round your lips while you hold it. The sound that comes out is ö. Try it in pairs like schon and schön until you hear the difference.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
