Gut vs Wohl – Good vs Well
English distinguishes good and well but German divides them differently: gut evaluates quality while wohl signals comfort, probability, or appropriateness. This guide drills their uses with short examples so you can choose naturally.
Gut
Gut evaluates something as positive, valuable, or effective; use it for quality, skill, taste, or performance. It appears as an adjective, adverb, or in fixed expressions when praise is intended.
Examples
| German Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🍞 Die Suppe schmeckt gut. | The soup tastes good. | Taste quality |
| 🧹 Das Zimmer ist gut geputzt. | The room is well cleaned. | Result of cleaning |
| 🧑🏫 Der Lehrer erklärt gut. | The teacher explains well. | Manner of explaining |
| 🚗 Das Auto fährt gut. | The car runs well. | Functioning properly |
| 🛠️ Die Lampe ist gut repariert. | The lamp is well repaired. | Quality of repair |
More Examples
| German Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🐶 Der Hund benimmt sich gut. | The dog behaves well. | Behavior |
| 🏃♀️ Sie trainiert gut. | She trains well. | Skill in training |
| 🎨 Das Bild ist gut gelungen. | The picture turned out well. | Success of creation |
| 🧴 Die Creme fühlt sich gut an. | The cream feels good. | Sensory feeling |
| 🍳 Das Essen ist gut zubereitet. | The food is well prepared. | Preparation quality |
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Wohl
Wohl relates to comfort, health, likelihood, or speaker's judgment; it often appears in modal contexts, set phrases, and when softening statements. Use it to signal something is fitting, probable, or to express well-being.
Examples
| German Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🍵 Mir ist wohl nach dem Spaziergang. | I feel well after the walk. | Feeling of comfort |
| 🛋️ Ich sitze wohl auf dem gemütlichen Sessel. | I sit comfortably on the cozy chair. | Physical comfort |
| 😌 Sie fühlt sich wohl in der neuen Wohnung. | She feels comfortable in the new apartment. | Emotional comfort |
| 🧖♂️ Nach der Massage war ihm wohl. | He felt good after the massage. | Relaxation |
| 🧣 Mir ist wohl, wenn ich den warmen Schal trage. | I feel comfortable when I wear the warm scarf. | Sense of coziness |
More Examples
| German Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🛏️ Ich habe wohl geschlafen. | I slept well. | Restful sleep |
| 🎶 Die Musik macht mir wohl. | The music makes me feel good. | Mood enhancement |
| 👕 In diesem Kleid sehe ich wohl aus. | I look good in this dress. | Appearance feeling |
| 🧑⚕️ Der Arzt sagte, es gehe mir wohl. | The doctor said I am doing well. | Health status |
| 🔥 Es ist wohl warm in diesem Zimmer. | It is probably warm in this room. | Note: sometimes wohl = probably |
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Summary
Use gut to judge quality or effectiveness and wohl to indicate comfort, probability, or appropriateness; paying attention to these distinctions will make your German sound more natural and precise.
Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025