German word

Tennis

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtɛnɪs/

Meaning

  • neuter nountennis

Example

Nach dem Tennis bin ich müde.

After tennis, I'm tired.

Illustration for Tennis (tennis)

More examples

Am Sonntag möchte ich ein Tennis-Match im Fernsehen sehen.

On Sunday, I would like to watch a tennis match on television.

Core concept

A racket sends a ball over a net into the opponent's court, where the next return decides whether the exchange continues.

Common phrases

  • ein Tennis-Match sehen

    watch a tennis match

  • auf dem Tennisplatz

    on the tennis court

Similar words

Match: A single contest in which opponents compete to decide a winner.
Spiel: A game or complete session of competitive play.
Training: A practice session for building skill or fitness.
Turnier: A competition in which several matches determine a winner or ranking.

Definition in German

Tennis ist ein Rückschlagspiel, bei dem Spieler mit Schlägern versuchen, den Ball so ins Feld des Gegners zu schlagen, dass dieser ihn nicht regelgerecht zurückspielen kann.

Word origin

German Tennis comes through English from Anglo-French tenetz, traditionally understood as a call meaning 'hold' or 'take' before a serve.

Usage tips

  • Tennis is a neuter noun, so the definite article is das, as in das Tennis, although the activity usually appears without an article in Tennis spielen.

Related words

  • Tennisballtennis ballnoun
  • Tennislehrertennis instructornoun

Word lists with this word