German · Emotions & Descriptions
"Free (no cost)" in German: kostenlos
kostenlos
Note: also: gratis
Free as in no charge in German is kostenlos. Say Der Eintritt ist kostenlos or Kostenloser Versand. Gratis means the same idea but is a different word — use kostenlos here.
Museum Sunday
Heute ist der Eintritt kostenlos.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce kostenlos
Say it
KOS-ten-lohs
/ˈkɔstn̩loːs/
KOS-ten-lohs. Stress KOS; clear -los.
"Free (no cost)" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| kostenlos | free (no cost) Core adjective. | Core adjective. |
| kostenloser Eintritt | free admission Museums/events. | Museums/events. |
| kostenlos testen | try for free Trials. | Trials. |
| umsonst | for nothing / free Spoken alternative. | Spoken alternative. |
How to use kostenlos in real life
- 1Museum Sunday
Heute ist der Eintritt kostenlos.
Today admission is free.
Ist … kostenlos.
- 2App offer
Du kannst die App sieben Tage kostenlos testen.
You can try the app free for seven days.
Kostenlos testen.
- 3Shipping checkout
Ab 50 Euro ist der Versand kostenlos.
From 50 euros shipping is free.
Versand kostenlos.
Mistakes English speakers make with kostenlos
Incorrect: Der Eintritt ist gratis (as the only headword form).
Correct: Der Eintritt ist kostenlos.
Gratis is a different word; headword is kostenlos.
Incorrect: Ich bin kostenlos (for having free time).
Correct: Ich habe Zeit. / Ich bin frei.
Kostenlos is no-cost free, not calendar-free.
Good to know
Posters love Kostenloser Eintritt and WLAN kostenlos. Gratis appears in ads too, but this entry sticks to kostenlos. Frei alone more often means available or unoccupied, not zero price.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Checking event tickets
ChatPal
Ist das Konzert wirklich kostenlos?
Is the concert really free?
You
Ja — Eintritt kostenlos, Getränke nicht.
Yes — admission free, drinks not.
ChatPal
Gut. Kostenlos klingt nach unserem Budget.
Good. Free fits our budget.
You
Genau. Wir gehen zum kostenlosen Open Air.
Exactly. We're going to the free open-air show.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Free (no cost)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Free (no cost)" in German
How do you say free (no cost)?
Kostenlos.
Free admission?
Kostenloser Eintritt.
Is gratis okay?
Common, but a different word — headword is kostenlos.
Free time?
Not kostenlos — use Zeit haben or frei sein.
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
