German · Emotions & Descriptions

"Hope" in German: Hoffnung

die Hoffnung

Say it: HOF-noongfeminine · die Hoffnungnoun/ˈhɔfnʊŋ/

Hope as a noun in German is die Hoffnung. Say Ich habe Hoffnung or volle Hoffnung. The related verb is hoffen: Ich hoffe, dass….

After bad news

Ich habe noch Hoffnung auf Besserung.
I still have hope for improvement.
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How to pronounce Hoffnung

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HOF-noong

/ˈhɔfnʊŋ/

HOF-noong. Soft -nung. Feminine: die Hoffnung.

"Hope" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
die Hoffnunghope

The noun.

Hoffnung habento have hope

Common collocation.

volle Hoffnungfull of hope

Optimistic tone.

hoffentlichhopefully

Adverb from the same family.

How to use Hoffnung in real life

  1. 1After bad news

    Ich habe noch Hoffnung auf Besserung.

    I still have hope for improvement.

    Hoffnung haben.

  2. 2Sports final

    Die Hoffnung auf den Titel bleibt.

    Hope for the title remains.

    Die Hoffnung subject.

  3. 3Encouraging a friend

    Gib die Hoffnung nicht so schnell auf.

    Don't give up hope so quickly.

    Die Hoffnung aufgeben.

Mistakes English speakers make with Hoffnung

Incorrect: der Hoffnung

Correct: die Hoffnung

Hoffnung is feminine.

Incorrect: Ich bin Hoffnung.

Correct: Ich habe Hoffnung. / Ich hoffe.

Use haben with the noun, or the verb hoffen.

Good to know

Hoffnung sounds sincere and a bit serious; for casual wishes Germans often say hoffentlich. In tough times, noch Hoffnung haben is a gentle supportive phrase.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Waiting on exam results

  1. ChatPal

    Hast du noch Hoffnung?

    Do you still have hope?

  2. You

    Ja, ein bisschen Hoffnung bleibt.

    Yes, a bit of hope remains.

  3. ChatPal

    Gute Hoffnung ist erlaubt.

    Good hope is allowed.

  4. You

    Dann halte ich an der Hoffnung fest.

    Then I'll hold on to the hope.

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"Hope" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Hope" in German

Noun vs verb?

Die Hoffnung is the noun; hoffen is the verb.

I hope that…?

Ich hoffe, dass…

Gender?

Feminine: die Hoffnung.

Hopefully?

Hoffentlich.

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