German · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Lake" in German: See
der See
Lake in German is der See, a masculine noun. Go swimming am See, and watch the gender: die See means the sea.
Weekend plan
Wollen wir am Wochenende an den See?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce See
Say it
ZAY
/zeː/
ZAY. Long e like "say" without a y-glide. Soft s at the start in most accents.
"Lake" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| der See | lake Masculine; inland water. | Masculine; inland water. |
| am See | at the lake Location phrase. | Location phrase. |
| der Badesee | swimming lake Lake used for bathing. | Lake used for bathing. |
| die Seen | lakes Plural of der See. | Plural of der See. |
How to use See in real life
- 1Weekend plan
Wollen wir am Wochenende an den See?
Shall we go to the lake this weekend?
An den See uses accusative for direction.
- 2Picnic
Wir sitzen direkt am See.
We're sitting right by the lake.
Am See is dative location.
- 3Map talk
Dieser See ist nicht zum Baden.
This lake is not for swimming.
Dieser See stays masculine.
Mistakes English speakers make with See
Incorrect: die See (for a lake)
Correct: der See
Der See is a lake. Die See means the sea.
Incorrect: zum See fahren (always)
Correct: an den See fahren / zum See (if named)
Direction is often an den See; zum See works with a named lake.
Good to know
Germans love a local See for summer swims, and Badeverbot signs matter. Confusing der See with die See is a classic learner mix-up.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Hot Saturday plans
ChatPal
Fahren wir zum See oder in den Park?
Shall we go to the lake or the park?
You
Zum See. Ich will schwimmen.
To the lake. I want to swim.
ChatPal
Pack die Decke ein. Der See wird voll.
Pack the blanket. The lake will be crowded.
You
Klar. Treffen wir uns am See um elf?
Sure. Meet at the lake at eleven?
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Lake" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Lake" in German
Is See masculine or feminine?
Der See is a lake. Die See is the sea.
How do you say at the lake?
Am See.
What is the plural of der See?
Die Seen.
How do you say swimming lake?
Der Badesee.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
