German word

Joker

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈjoːkɐ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounjoker

Example

Sie hat den Joker gespielt.

She played her joker.

Illustration for Joker (joker)

More examples

Im Turnier setzte der Trainer auf den Joker.

In the tournament, the coach bet on the joker.

Core concept

An unexpected card or person held in reserve changes the outcome when the usual options are no longer enough.

Common phrases

  • einen Joker aus dem Ärmel ziehen

    pull a joker out of one's sleeve

  • auf den Joker setzen

    bet on the joker

  • ohne den Joker auskommen

    get by without the joker

Similar words

Trumpf: A card given special power by the rules of the game.
Einwechseljoker: A substitute player brought on to change the course of a match.
Gambit: A strategic move designed to provoke a reaction and gain an advantage.

Definition in German

Joker ist ein Substantiv für eine Person, Sache oder Karte, die als unerwarteter Vorteil oder unvorhersehbare Ressource dient.

Word origin

German borrowed Joker from English, where joker was formed from joke with the agent suffix -er and later became the name of the wild card.

Usage tips

  • Joker is masculine in German, with der Joker and the unchanged plural die Joker.

Other meanings

  • wild cardnoun

Related words

  • Jokerspielgame with jokersnoun

Word lists with this word