German word

Scherz

Pronunciation

IPA/ʃɛɐ̯ts/

Meaning

  • masculine nounjoke

Example

Das war doch nur ein Scherz.

That was just a joke.

Illustration for Scherz (joke)

More examples

Er hat gestern einen Scherz gemacht, aber niemand lachte.

He made a joke yesterday, but nobody laughed.

Core concept

A laugh-triggering remark or playful trick that lightly teases another person.

Common phrases

  • einen Scherz machen

    make a joke

  • einen Scherz reißen

    crack a joke

  • auf einen Scherz hereinfallen

    fall for a joke

Similar words

Witz: A short witty remark or story designed to make people laugh.
Spaß: Playful behavior or a lighthearted mood that makes an atmosphere more relaxed.
Ironie: An expression that hints at a meaning opposite to its literal wording for humor or criticism.
Gag: A brief staged bit or device aimed at getting an immediate laugh.

Definition in German

Scherz ist ein Nomen für eine Handlung oder Aussage mit dem Zweck, Humor zu erzeugen oder jemanden spielerisch zu necken.

Word origin

Scherz is recorded in Middle High German as scherz and is related to scherzen, with both words referring to joking or playful teasing.

Usage tips

  • Scherz is masculine, with the plural Scherze: der Scherz, die Scherze.

Other meanings

  • pranknoun

Opposites

  • Ernstseriousnessnoun

Related words

  • scherzenjokeverb
  • scherzhaftjocularadjective

Word lists with this word