German · Body & Health

"Heart" in German: Herz

das Herz

Say it: hairtsneuter · das Herznoun/hɛʁts/

Heart in German is das Herz, a neuter noun with plural die Herzen. It names the organ and warm feelings. Heartfelt congratulations are Herzlichen Glückwunsch.

At the doctor

Mein Herz schlägt sehr schnell.
My heart is beating very fast.
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How to pronounce Herz

Say it

hairts

/hɛʁts/

Hairts. The z is like "ts". Short e as in "bed". One syllable in careful speech, sometimes with a soft schwa in the plural Herzen.

"Heart" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
das Herzheart

Organ and emotional centre.

die Herzenhearts

Plural form.

Herzlichen Glückwunschcongratulations

Fixed warm phrase.

von Herzenfrom the heart

Sincerely.

Herzschmerzheartache

Emotional pain.

How to use Herz in real life

  1. 1At the doctor

    Mein Herz schlägt sehr schnell.

    My heart is beating very fast.

    Schlagen is the usual verb for heartbeat.

  2. 2Writing a card

    Alles Gute von Herzen!

    All the best from the heart!

    Warm closing for cards.

  3. 3About courage

    Nimm dir ein Herz und frag nach.

    Take heart and ask.

    Sich ein Herz nehmen means to pluck up courage.

Mistakes English speakers make with Herz

Incorrect: der Herz

Correct: das Herz

Herz is neuter: das Herz. Dative often dem Herzen in fixed phrases.

Incorrect: Herzlichen Glückwünsche (always plural)

Correct: Herzlichen Glückwunsch!

The set congratulation uses singular Glückwunsch most often.

Good to know

Herz shows up constantly in polite formulas: Herzlich willkommen, Herzlichen Dank, Herzlichst. These do not sound over-romantic; they are normal warmth markers in German writing and speech.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

After a short run in the park

  1. ChatPal

    Spürst du dein Herz jetzt?

    Can you feel your heart now?

  2. You

    Ja, mein Herz rast ein bisschen.

    Yes, my heart is racing a bit.

  3. ChatPal

    Normal nach dem Tempo. Atme ins Herz hinein.

    Normal after that pace. Breathe into the heart.

  4. You

    Okay. Das Herz wird schon ruhiger.

    Okay. The heart is already calming down.

This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.

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"Heart" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Heart" in German

What gender is Herz?

Neuter: das Herz. Some old dative forms use dem Herzen.

How do you say congratulations?

Herzlichen Glückwunsch! is the classic phrase.

Does Herz only mean the organ?

No. It also means emotional heart, as in von Herzen and Herzenswunsch.

What is Herzlichen Dank?

Heartfelt thanks. A warmer alternative to vielen Dank.

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