How To Say Have Fun In German: Viel Spaß And 9 Alternatives With Examples

There’s an interesting thing about German. Okay, there are more than one interesting things, but we’re talking about one specific topic here.

And it’s about saying to have fun in German. The truth is: there’s no direct translation for having fun in German.

But, of course, there are alternatives! The best one is probably Viel Spaß – here’s how Memrise collaborators pronounce it:

If you want to learn some amazing alternatives to sound like a native speaker, you’re in the right place!

1. Viel Spaß! (Have fun!)

It’s good for all situations, from casual to formal. You can use it to describe your own enjoyment or ask others if they’re having a good time.

In a German conversation, you might say:

Anna: Ich gehe jetzt ins Kino.
Ben: Cool, viel Spaß!
(Anna: I’m going to the cinema now.
Ben: Cool, have fun!)

2. Spaß machen (to be fun)

This phrase is used to describe activities or things that are truly enjoyable.

It’s slightly more informal than “Spaß haben” and is used to express enthusiasm about a thing or activity. You can use it to recommend activities to friends or describe what you enjoy.

For example:

Lena: Wie findest du den neuen Escape Room?
Felix: Er macht total Spaß! Du solltest ihn auch mal ausprobieren.
(Lena: How do you like the new escape room?
Felix: It’s so much fun! You should try it sometime.)

3. Spaß haben (to have fun)

This is a common well-wish in German, equivalent to “Have fun!” in English.

It can be used in different situations, from casual to semi-formal. You can even say it when someone is about to start an activity or go somewhere.

Imagine it like this:

Maria: Hey Thomas, hast du Spaß auf der Party?
Thomas: Ja, ich habe wirklich viel Spaß! Die Musik ist super.
(Maria: Hey Thomas, are you having fun at the party?
Thomas: Yes, I’m really having a lot of fun! The music is great.)

4. Spaß verstehen (to have a sense of humor)

This phrase is sometimes used in its negative form to describe someone who can’t take a joke.

It’s relatively informal and used when talking about people’s reactions to humor.

You might use it like this:

Sarah: Warum ist Peter so sauer?
Max: Er versteht einfach keinen Spaß, wenn es um seine Kochkünste geht.
(Sarah: Why is Peter so angry?
Max: He just can’t take a joke when it comes to his cooking skills.)

5. Aus Spaß (for fun)

This expression is used to express that something is done purely for enjoyment, without serious intent.

It’s casual and can be used to explain motivations for hobbies or activities.

Take a look at this German convo:

Olivia: Warum lernst du Japanisch?
Tim: Ach, nur aus Spaß. Ich finde die Sprache faszinierend. (Olivia: Why are you learning Japanese?
Tim: Oh, just for fun. I find the language fascinating.)

6. Der Spaß hört auf (the fun is over)

This phrase shows a shift from a lighthearted mood to a more serious one…

It’s somewhat informal and mainly used when playtime is over or when a situation becomes serious.

You might hear it like this:

Lisa: Komm schon, noch ein Spiel!
Mark: Nein, jetzt hört der Spaß auf. Wir müssen uns auf die Prüfung vorbereiten.
(Lisa: Come on, one more game!
Mark: No, the fun’s over now. We need to prepare for the exam.)

7. Spaßvogel (joker, fun person)

This is a friendly, informal term for someone who likes to joke around.

It’s often used affectionately to describe a person with a good sense of humor.

You might use it like this:

Emma: Dein Bruder ist echt witzig!
Lukas: Ja, er ist ein echter Spaßvogel. Er bringt alle zum Lachen.
(Emma: Your brother is really funny!
Lukas: Yes, he’s a real joker. He makes everyone laugh.)

8. Spaßig (fun, amusing)

This adjective describes something as fun or amusing.

It’s casual and good to give positive feedback about an experience.

You can talk about your days of the week in German like this:

Nina: Wie war dein Wochenende?
Paul: Es war super spaßig! Wir haben eine Karaoke-Nacht gemacht.
(Nina: How was your weekend?
Paul: It was super fun! We had a karaoke night.)

9. Spaß beiseite (joking aside)

Use this phrase when you want to transition from joking to being serious.

It’s moderately informal and helps to signal that you’re about to say something important.

For example:

Julia: Haha, du könntest ja dein Auto verkaufen und nur noch Fahrrad fahren!
David: Ja, lustig. Aber Spaß beiseite, ich muss wirklich über meine Ausgaben nachdenken.
(Julia: Haha, you could sell your car and just ride a bike!
David: Yeah, funny. But joking aside, I really need to think about my expenses.)

10. Spaßbremse (killjoy)

This informal term describes someone who ruins the fun for others.

It’s often used playfully to encourage someone to join in on the fun.

You can use it like this:

Sophia: Ich bleibe lieber zu Hause und lerne.
Daniel: Ach, sei keine Spaßbremse! Komm mit uns zur Party, du hast es dir verdient.
(Sophia: I’d rather stay home and study.
Daniel: Oh, don’t be a killjoy! Come to the party with us, you’ve earned it.)

Practice worksheet for having fun in German

Practice having fun in German with the right vocabulary!

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