# Help with Football/Soccer phrases in German
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-football-soccer-phrases-in-german/232322
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 3, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-football-soccer-phrases-in-german/232322 "2004-03-03T16:01:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-football-soccer-phrases-in-german/232322/1 "2004-03-03T16:01:28Z")
I’m involved with a group (Yanks in Germany) that supports the US national team in their international matches. We’re trying to put together a guide to Germany in advance of the 2006 World Cup and I need some help translating phrases that one might encounter watching a match in Germany. Anybody speak German well enough ( **Coldfire**?)and know fussball enough to give a go at translating these?
thanks,
# Shibb Note: these were culled from a Spanish/English website, feel free to suggest improvements (additions/deletions/changes etc)
The Field
- the field, the pitch
- the middle/half of the field
- the penalty box
- sideline; touchline
- endline; goal-line
- penalty spot
- right corner flag
- left corner flag
The Teams
- national team
- team
- visiting team
- home team
- the lineups; the roster
- the coach
The Players
- player
- defender
- midfielder
- wingers
- goalkeeper
- forward; striker
- usually a lone striker; any forward
- a goal scorer, one who scores very often
- leading goalscorer
- reserve players
- injured
- countryman
The Fans
- attendance
- fans
- the dedicated fans / supporters
- flag
- scarf
- face paint
- chants
- songs
- drumming
- hooligans
Rules and Standings
- the score
- the beginning, the start (of the season, of the game, etc)
- first half
- second half
- regulation time
- the referee
- linesman; line judge; referee’s assistant
- to leave the field (as in substitution)
- to enter the field (as in substitution)
- the season
- the playoffs
- the second leg in a two-game series or revenge, as in the second
time that two teams meet
- undefeated
- yellow card
- red card
- ejection
- to waste time (intentionally)
- tactics; strategy
- technical ball skill
Technical Terms
- the/a play; “handiwork”
- set plays
- cross; center (e.g. into the penalty area)
- throw in
- goalkick
- corner kick
- offside
- free kick
- infraction
- penalty kick
- bench
- substitution
- warming up (reserve players)
- at home
- on the road
- first-time; one-time
- bicycle kick; overhead volley
- diving header
- backheel pass
- shot at goal
- a shot way off the mark
- a REALLY hard shot at goal, usually from long distance
- to finish (an opportunity)
- to score a goal
- to tie/draw
- header
- elbow foul
- shoulder foul
- handball
- to open the field (i.e. spread it out to the wings)
- a switch of play to the opposite side of the field
- counterattack
- to/through the middle
- the defensive wall during a free kick
- pass
- very short passing; early cross?
- return pass
- defensive clearance
- extra time
- overtime period
- formation
- 442
- 352
Describing the Run of Play
- The Hand of God (referring to Maradono goal)
- It is a handball!
- There’s no time for any more! (end of first half, regulation time,
overtime, etc.)
- Here it comes! It’s coming! (a goal)
- “It’s (almost) here!” (a goal)
- It doesn’t count! (disallowed goal, or when play proceeds a little
after the offside call, etc.)
- [player name] broke through on the ground (as in keeping the ball low;
or
as in reference to a fallen player; etc.)
- of a ball hit long and high (said with a negative tone…)
- slow
- totally off the mark (a shot at goal)
- outside (refers to shots that go wide)
- up (refers to shots over the crossbar)
- looking for the tie, or striving for the tying goal
- he messed up
- good
- bad
- from long distance
- to run
- to ask for (e.g. the ball)
- to maintain possession of the ball (by a player or team)
- to regain (the ball)
- danger! (as during a threat at goal)
- to leave it (the ball) for another player to run onto
- he hit it! (at goal)
- pressure (defensive or offensive)
- a play bringing the ball out of one’s defensive half
- from the back (as in an attack generated by the defense)
- to win
- to lose
- in favor of; for; belonging to (The free kick for the US)
- to fight (for the ball, for the win, with each other, etc.)
---
### Author:  [@Chak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chak)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-football-soccer-phrases-in-german/232322/2 "2004-03-03T16:12:08Z")
That’s a lot of work. I will get back to that later if noone else has not answered yet.
---
### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2004, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-football-soccer-phrases-in-german/232322/3 "2004-03-03T16:17:53Z")
> [@Chak](#):
>
> That’s a lot of work. I will get back to that later if noone else has not answered yet.
Feel free to take a shot at a single section if you like. I can also give a shot at translating these but my German’s not that tight and I’m afraid I’d cause more problems than I’d solve.
---
### Author:  [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-football-soccer-phrases-in-german/232322/4 "2004-03-03T19:06:14Z")
The Teams
- national team - _die Nationalmannschaft_
- team - _die Mannschaft, das Team,_ sometimes: _die Elf_ (literally: eleven)
- visiting team _die Gastmannschaft_
- home team _die Heimmannschaft_
- the lineups; the roster _die Aufstellung_
- the coach _der Trainer, der Teamchef_
As with all German words you can create compound words on the fly. So can anyone guess what a _Nationaltrainer_ might be? 😉
I’ll do a few more but I hope someone will join me soon.
---
### Author:  [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-football-soccer-phrases-in-german/232322/5 "2004-03-03T19:24:05Z")
The Field
- the field, the pitch - _das Feld, der Platz_
- the middle/half of the field - _das Mittelfeld, die Mittellinie_ (“middle line”)
- the penalty box - _der Strafraum_
- sideline; touchline - _die Seitenlinie_
- endline; goal-line - _die Torlinie_
- penalty spot - _Strafstoßmarke_ (official), _Elfmeterpunkt_ (“eleven meter spot”)
- right corner flag - _rechte Eckfahne_ (_Ecke_ = corner)
- left corner flag - _linke Eckfahne_
---
### Author:  [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-football-soccer-phrases-in-german/232322/6 "2004-03-03T19:42:40Z")
The Players
- player - _der Spieler_
- defender - _der Verteidiger_
- midfielder - _der Mittelfeldspieler_
- wingers - _der Flügelstürmer_
- goalkeeper - _der Torhüter, der Torwart_
- forward; striker - _der Stürmer_
- usually a lone striker; any forward - ?
- a goal scorer, one who scores very often - ? _der Torschütze_ ?
- leading goalscorer - (in a league or tournament) _der Torschützenkönig_
- reserve players - _Reservespieler_
- injured - _verletzt_ (adj.) _der Verletzte_ (n.)
- countryman - _Landsmann_
---
### Author:  [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-football-soccer-phrases-in-german/232322/7 "2004-03-03T19:45:48Z")
Hey, there is enough for all of us! 😉
---
### Author:  [@Chak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chak)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-football-soccer-phrases-in-german/232322/8 "2004-03-03T20:47:27Z")
> [@kellner](#):
>
> Hey, there is enough for all of us! 😉
you are doing quite a good job.
😛
---
### Author:  [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2004, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-football-soccer-phrases-in-german/232322/9 "2004-03-03T21:58:40Z")
The Fans
- attendance - _die Zuschauerzahl_
- fans - _der Fan,_ pl. _die Fans_
- the dedicated fans / supporters - _der Anhänger,_ pl. _die Anhänger_
- flag - _die Fahne, die Flagge_ (technically a _Flagge_ is only something on a string for setting on a pole)
- scarf - _der Schal_
- face paint - _die Gesichtsbemalung, die Schminke_ (“makeup”)
- chants - _die Gesänge_ (pl.)
- songs - _die Lieder, (die Gesänge ?)_
- drumming - _trommeln_ (v.), _das Trommeln_ (n.)
- hooligans - _die Hooligans_ (pl.) We never needed a native word for that! 😃
Rules and Standings
- the score - _der Spielstand_
- the beginning, the start (of the season, of the game, etc) - Season: \*der Saisonbeginn - \* Game: _der Spielbeginn, der Anpfiff_ (actual whistle signal for the start)
- first half - _die erste Halbzeit_
- second half - _die zweite Halbzeit_
- regulation time - _die reguläre Spielzeit_
- the referee - _der Schiedsrichter_
- linesman; line judge; referee’s assistant - official: _der Schiedsrichterassistent_ common: _der Linienrichter_ (\*)
- to leave the field (as in substitution) - _ausgewechselt werden_
- to enter the field (as in substitution) - _eingewechselt werden_
- the season - _die Saison_
- the playoffs - _die Endrunde_ ? (_playoffs_ is also known as a foreign word, but usually not refering to soccer)
- the second leg in a two-game series or revenge, as in the second
time that two teams meet - _das Rückspiel_ opposite: _das Hinspiel_
- undefeated - _ungeschlagen_
- yellow card - _die gelbe Karte_
- red card - _die rote Karte_
- ejection - _der Platzverweis_
- to waste time (intentionally) - _die Spielverzögerung_
- tactics; strategy - _die Taktik, die Strategie_
- technical ball skill - _die Technik, das Ballgefühl_ (“ball feeling”)
(\*) This was officially changed a few years ago from _Linienrichter_ (“line judge”) to Schiedsrichterassistent (“referee’s assistant”.) Bad joke from that time: “It’s also not called _post_ any longer, now it’s _crossbar assistant_.” (I hope I didn’t mingle it too badly.)
---
### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2004, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-football-soccer-phrases-in-german/232322/10 "2004-03-03T23:17:56Z")
Damn, **Kellner** , I’ll have to spring some beers for you next time I’m over there. Are you permanent in Saarbruecken?
---
### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2004, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-football-soccer-phrases-in-german/232322/11 "2004-03-03T23:42:04Z")
Seriously, **Kellner** , I’d like to give you a credit in the guide (if they do that), so if you’re interested in an honorable mention then you can email me your particulars.
BTW, how would you say qualified or went through to the next round, or conversely, failed to make the next round? Is that similar to “standing” or “falling down” like with exams? For example, “Germany are through again to the quarterfinal, having defeated the English 6-0. This is the umpteenth time England have failed to make it into the semi-finals.”
🙂
---
### Author:  [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-football-soccer-phrases-in-german/232322/12 "2004-03-04T01:13:17Z")
I missed a few of those. Sometimes I think I knew what those are but could not find of a fitting German phrase. Keep in mind that I see very little English language soccer.
Technical Terms
- the/a play; “handiwork” - _das Spiel_ (“game” and “play”/“way of playing”)
- set plays - ?
- cross; center (e.g. into the penalty area) - die Flanke\*
- throw in - _der Einwurf_
- goalkick - _der Torschuß_
- corner kick - _der Eckstoß_
- offside - _das Abseits_
- free kick - _der Freistoß_
- infraction - _die Übertretung_
- penalty kick - official: _der Strafstoß_ very common: _der Elfmeter_ (“eleven meters”)
- bench - _die Bank_
- substitution - _die Auswechslung, der Wechsel_
- warming up (reserve players) - _aufwärmen_
- at home - _zuhause_
- on the road - _auswärts_
- first-time; one-time - ? _erstes…, einziges…_
- bicycle kick; overhead volley - _der Fallrückzieher_
- diving header - header = _der Kopfball_
- backheel pass - _Hackentrick_
- shot at goal - _Torschuß_
- a shot way off the mark - ?
- a REALLY hard shot at goal, usually from long distance - _der Distanzschuß_
- to finish (an opportunity) - _verwandeln_ (v.)
- to score a goal - _ein Tor erzielen_ (formal), _ein Tor schießen_
- to tie/draw - _ausgleichen_
- header - _der Kopfball_
- elbow foul - _das Ellbogenfoul_
- shoulder foul - ? don’t know any special term, _der Rempler_~“jostle” might be close
- handball - _das Handspiel_
- to open the field (i.e. spread it out to the wings) - ?
- a switch of play to the opposite side of the field - ?
- counterattack - _Konter_
- to/through the middle - _durch die Mitte_
- the defensive wall during a free kick - _die Mauer_
- pass - _der Pass_
- very short passing; early cross? - short passing: _der Kurzpass_
- return pass - _der Rückpass_
- defensive clearance - _klären (v.)_ (all nouns I can think of sound clumsy)
- extra time - literally: _zusätzliche Zeit_ or see below
- overtime period - _die Nachspielzeit_
- formation - _die Formation_
- 442 - I guess the numbers are ok (_vier-vier-zwei_) but there are also other names for formations
- 352 - _drei-fünf-zwei_
Soon I’ll attempt the last group.
> [@ShibbOleth](#):
>
> BTW, how would you say qualified or went through to the next round, or conversely, failed to make the next round?
I think the most common versions would be:
to qualify for x - _x erreichen_
Italy qualifies for the next round - _Italien erreicht die nächste Runde._
or _sich für x qualifizieren_
_Italien qualifiziert sich für die nächste Runde._
to fail to make x - either simply the negation of the phrases above (_Italien erreicht die nächste Runde nicht._) or _ausscheiden_ (very general)
_Italien scheidet aus._
---
### Author:  [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-football-soccer-phrases-in-german/232322/13 "2004-03-04T02:15:10Z")
For most of those there are of course many possibilities:
Describing the Run of Play
- The Hand of God (referring to Maradono goal) - _Die Hand Gottes_
- It is a handball! - _Das ist Handspiel!, Handspiel!_
- There’s no time for any more! (end of first half, regulation time,
overtime, etc.) - _Die Zeit ist um._
- Here it comes! It’s coming! (a goal) - ? many possibilities, relatively literal: _Es kommt, es kommt!_
- “It’s (almost) here!” (a goal) - ? almost literal: _Es ist fast da!_
- It doesn’t count! (disallowed goal, or when play proceeds a little
after the offside call, etc.) _Es zählt nicht._ or _Es wird nicht gegeben_ (goal or expected penalty)
- [player name] broke through on the ground (as in keeping the ball low;
or
as in reference to a fallen player; etc.) - ?
- of a ball hit long and high (said with a negative tone…) - ?
- slow - _langsam_
- totally off the mark (a shot at goal) - _weit vorbei, völlig daneben…_
- outside (refers to shots that go wide) - _das Aus (n.), Aus!_
- up (refers to shots over the crossbar)
- looking for the tie, or striving for the tying goal - “den Ausgleich anstreben”
- he messed up - _Er hat es versaut/versemmelt/versiebt._ (informal)
- good - _gut_
- bad - _schlecht_
- from long distance - _aus der Distanz_
- to run - _rennen, laufen_ (more general)
- to ask for (e.g. the ball) _um x bitten_ player asking for the ball: _sich anbieten_ (“to offer oneself”)
- to maintain possession of the ball (by a player or team) _den Ball behalten_
- to regain (the ball) _den Ball zurückerobern_
- danger! (as during a threat at goal) - _Achtung!_
- to leave it (the ball) for another player to run onto - _jemandem den Ball überlassen_
- he hit it! (at goal) - _Er hat getroffen._
- pressure (defensive or offensive) - _der Druck_
- a play bringing the ball out of one’s defensive half - _den Ball nach vorne spielen_ (not very literal)
- from the back (as in an attack generated by the defense) - _von hinten, aus der Tiefe_
- to win - _gewinnen_
- to lose - _verlieren_
- in favor of; for; belonging to (The free kick for the US) - _zugunsten der USA_ (“in favor of…”), _für die USA_ (“for…”, more general, can include negatives)
- to fight (for the ball, for the win, with each other, etc.) - _kämpfen_ (“the fight/struggle”=_der Kampf_
> [@ShibbOleth](#):
>
> Seriously, Kellner, I’d like to give you a credit in the guide (if they do that), so if you’re interested in an honorable mention then you can email me your particulars.
My full name is Phillip Kellner (that’s not that secret anyway.) Do you need anything else?
If you have any questions on the translations or additional phrases, let me know! (I also have a mail address entered)