Rückhand

backhand (tennis/table tennis)

noun RUEK-hahnt Rare

Usage Note

Rückhand is the stroke hit across the body with the back of the hand leading. A player with a reliable beidhändige Rückhand (two-handed backhand) has a versatile Grundlinienspiel. Antonym: Vorhand.

Examples

"Ihre Rückhand schlug in die hintere Ecke des Feldes."

Natural Translation

Her backhand landed in the back corner of the court.

Literal Translation

Her backhand struck into the back corner of the field.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

German Umlauts & ß: Sounds and Typing

Pronounce ä, ö, ü with the front-tongue, rounded-lips rule, master the ß vs ss spelling, and type every German umlaut on Mac, Windows, and phone.

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

GermanNow

Weil vs Denn vs Da: "Because" in German

Weil and da send the verb to the end; denn keeps it in second position. Here's how to pick the right German "because" and place the verb correctly.

June 5, 2026 6 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