Operations are basic processes for handling numbers, and each has a specific German term you should know.
Addition
Addition is combining amounts, and the key German word is die Addition or das Addieren.
Examples
Vocabulary
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| die Addition | addition | |
| addieren | to add | |
| plus | plus | |
| die Summe | sum | |
| der Term | term |
We need to add all the results to find the total.
| German Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| plus | plus | |
| und | and | |
| mehr | more | |
| dazu | in addition | |
| summe | sum | |
| gesamt | total | |
| aufschlagen | to add (charge) | |
| hinzufügen | to add (item) |
Subtraction
Subtraction is taking one amount away from another, called die Subtraktion or das Subtrahieren in German.
Examples
Vocabulary
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| die Subtraktion | subtraction | |
| subtrahieren | to subtract | |
| minus | minus | |
| die Differenz | difference | |
| der Minuend | minuend | |
| der Subtrahend | subtrahend |
| German Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| minus | minus | |
| weniger | less | |
| abziehen | to subtract | |
| entfernen | to remove | |
| reduzieren | to reduce | |
| rabatt | discount | |
| differenz | difference | |
| rest | remainder |
Multiplication
Multiplication is repeated addition, known as die Multiplikation or das Multiplizieren in German.
Examples
Vocabulary
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| die Multiplikation | multiplication | |
| multiplizieren | to multiply | |
| mal | times | |
| das Produkt | product | |
| der Faktor | factor |
| German Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| mal | times | |
| je | each | |
| pro | per | |
| größer | larger | |
| vervielfachen | to multiply | |
| produkt | product | |
| doppelt | double | |
| mehrfach | multiple |
Division
Division splits an amount into parts, called die Division or das Dividieren in German.
Examples
Vocabulary
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| die Division | division | |
| dividieren | to divide | |
| durch | divided by / through | |
| der Quotient | quotient | |
| der Dividenden | dividend | |
| der Divisor | divisor |
| German Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| geteilt durch | divided by | |
| aufteilen | to divide | |
| verteilen | to distribute | |
| anteil | share | |
| bruchteile | fractions | |
| quotient | quotient | |
| gleichmäßig | evenly | |
| portion | portion |
Additional Operations
Other common operations include die Potenzierung (exponentiation), die Wurzel (root), and das Rechnen (calculating) more generally.
Vocabulary
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| die Potenzierung | exponentiation | |
| die Wurzel | root | |
| das Quadrat | square | |
| die Rechnung | calculation | |
| rechnen | to calculate |
| German Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| erhöhen | to increase | |
| verringern | to decrease | |
| aufrunden | to round up | |
| abrunden | to round down | |
| prozent | percent | |
| steigerung | increase | |
| minderung | reduction | |
| saldo | balance |
Summary
Learn the German terms for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and other operations so you can follow and give instructions in math contexts.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025