German · People & Family

"Stranger" in German: Fremde

der/die Fremde

Say it: FREM-duhmasculine / feminine · der/die Fremdenoun/ˈfʁɛmdə/

A stranger in German is der Fremde or die Fremde. Say Ein Fremder fragt nach dem Weg. Plural is often die Fremden.

Street

Ein Fremder hat nach dem Bahnhof gefragt.
A stranger asked about the station.
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How to pronounce Fremde

Say it

FREM-duh

/ˈfʁɛmdə/

FREM-duh. Soft e. Soft final -e.

"Stranger" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
der/die Fremdethe stranger (m/f)

Main noun forms.

die Fremdenstrangers

Plural.

ein Fremdera stranger (m)

Indefinite masculine.

fremde Menschenstrange / unfamiliar people

Adjective use nearby.

How to use Fremde in real life

  1. 1Street

    Ein Fremder hat nach dem Bahnhof gefragt.

    A stranger asked about the station.

    Ein Fremder.

  2. 2Door

    Die Fremde an der Tür wirkt freundlich.

    The stranger at the door seems friendly.

    Die Fremde.

  3. 3Advice

    Öffne Fremden nachts nicht einfach die Tür.

    Don't simply open the door to strangers at night.

    Fremden dative plural.

Mistakes English speakers make with Fremde

Incorrect: das Fremde (for a person)

Correct: der/die Fremde

For a person use der/die Fremde.

Incorrect: der Stranger

Correct: der Fremde

Use Fremde, not English stranger.

Good to know

Fremde can mean stranger or foreigner depending on context. For tourist sense people also say Touristen; for unknown person at the door, Fremde fits.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Someone rings the wrong apartment

  1. ChatPal

    Ist das ein Fremder oder der Nachbar?

    Is that a stranger or the neighbor?

  2. You

    Ein Fremder. Er sucht die dritte Etage.

    A stranger. He's looking for the third floor.

  3. ChatPal

    Okay. Der Fremde kann den Aufzug nehmen.

    Okay. The stranger can take the elevator.

  4. You

    Ich erklär's ihm. Die Fremde neben ihm wartet auch.

    I'll explain it to him. The stranger next to him is waiting too.

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

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"Stranger" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Stranger" in German

How do you say stranger?

Der/die Fremde.

Plural?

Die Fremden.

A stranger (m)?

Ein Fremder.

Foreigner too?

Sometimes—context decides; Ausländer is more specific.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

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  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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