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LEARNING GERMAN

German word of the day: Das Zeug

Being one of the most universal words in the German language, Zeug makes for a very useful word of the day.

Published: 17 October 2023 16:39 CEST

German word of the day: Das Zeug

Photo: Francesco Ungaro / Unsplash + Nicolas Raymond / flickr

The German language sure loves its Zeug. It doesn’t matter if it’s used as a single word or in combination with other words – Zeug is the way to go. Its translation is not that exciting, though; it literally means “stuff.”

The word Zeug comes from the Old High German word (gi)ziuch, which is related to the word ziehen (“to pull”) and means something like “the instrument to pull/do stuff with.”

Throughout its history, Zeug has had many different meanings and uses. An old one is directly connected to its meaning as the thing to pull things – it was the harness of a horse. Other meanings vary from fabric to rigging to tools.

Nowadays, Zeug has two common uses, one of them being in a derogatory way. “Was liegt denn hier für Zeug rum?” (“What’s this stuff laying around here?”) is something a mother might ask her child that hadn’t cleaned the room in a while. The other common meaning is in combination with other words. Basically everything can be Zeug, so let me give some examples:

Flugzeug, literally “fly thing”, means “aeroplane.”

Spielzeug, literally “play stuff”, means “toys.”

Fahrzeug, literally “drive thing,” means “vehicle.”

Werkzeug, literally “work stuff,” means “tools.“

If that might confuse you, look at the old meaning. Zeug is an instrument to do stuff with. Hence, a Fahrzeug is a thing to drive with. A Spielzeug is stuff to play with. It might sound complicated, but is actually rather simple.

Examples:

Kann ich noch mal vorbei kommen? Ich glaube, ich habe mein Zeug bei dir vergessen.

Can I come over real quick? I think I might have forgotten some stuff at your place.

Ich werde mich ins Zeug legen.

I’ll do my very best.

Kannst du dein Zeug bitte wegräumen?

Could you please put your stuff away?

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Do Austrians still use the formal 'Sie' in German?

In Austria, people have been using “Sie” as a formal way of addressing each other for decades, if not centuries.

Using “Sie” is deeply integrated with Austrian culture and has been passed down through generations as a sign of respect and politeness.

But even if “Sie” is still commonly used in Austria today, younger generations tend to use it less frequently than older ones, and the more informal “Du” is increasing in popularity, Vienna’s IKI language academy told The Local.

The ‘du’ form has gained popularity

In general, using “du” is accepted in less formal settings or when you know someone well.

Over time, the use of “Sie” has decreased in informal and semi-official contexts in Austria, according to the IKI language academy.

The informal “du” form has gained popularity, especially among younger people and in digital communication. In social media, informal meetings, and among friends, the “du” form is more commonly used.

Heike Ziehr, Head of the German Language Department at Sprachenzentrum in Vienna, also agreed that “du” is gaining popularity but added that he does not think it’s appropriate in certain situations.

“‘Du’ is spreading, in social media, leisure time, or at workshops. In the mountains, people always use “du” above 2,000 meters. Occasionally, students address me informally at the university, then I point out to them that it is not appropriate. Sometimes there is a high level of familiarity between teachers and students, and then “du” is often used. I do not recommend it in a professional context”, he said.

READ NEXT: How to explore the Austrian mountains in the summer like a local

Formal and official situations

How “Sie” is used among the different generations depends on the situation and who is involved in it.

“Sie” is mainly used in formal and official situations in Austria. You use “Sie” in conversations with strangers, in professional contexts, during official appointments, in stores, and generally in scenarios where respect and distance are expected to be maintained.

It is also common to address older people or those in higher positions with “Sie”, as a sign of respect and acknowledgement.

Some examples of situations where you are expected to use “Sie” include when you have a doctors appointment, in formal business settings such as meetings with customers, or in daily life situations where you engage with strangers, such as in restaurants or other service establishments, especially when speaking to staff members.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Austria wants to define its fundamental culture but what is it?

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