Gänsehaut

goosebumps

noun GAEN-ze-howt Rare

Also means

gooseflesh (from excitement, fear, or cold)

Usage Note

Gänsehaut literally means 'goose skin' and is the German word for the perceptual-physical response of goosebumps — triggered by cold, fear, or strong aesthetic or emotional experience. Gänsehaut bekommen (to get goosebumps).

Examples

"Bei dieser Melodie bekomme ich jedes Mal Gänsehaut."

Natural Translation

This melody gives me goosebumps every single time.

Literal Translation

At this melody get I every time goose-skin.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

German False Friends: 25 Words That Trick You

German false friends like Gift (poison) and bekommen (to receive) trick English speakers daily. Here are 25 words that mean the opposite of what you'd guess.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

German Modal Verbs: Können, Müssen, Wollen and More

German modal verbs put the modal in position 2 and the real verb at the end. Master können, müssen, wollen and the rest with charts and clear examples.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

German Greetings by Region: Grüß Gott to Grüezi

German greetings change by region: say Moin in Hamburg, Grüß Gott in Bavaria, Grüezi in Switzerland. A map of every hello and goodbye, plus du vs. Sie.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Colors: Names, Shades, and Idioms

German colors are adjectives that take endings — say das rote Auto, not das rot Auto. Get the names, shades, the das-Rot rule, and 14 color idioms.

June 5, 2026 5 min read