In German
American Football
Meaning: American football (not soccer!)
Example sentences
ErspieltgernAmericanFootball.
He likes playing American football.
AmericanFootballistinDeutschlandwenigerbekanntalsFußball.
American football is less well-known in Germany than soccer.
Grammar note
When Germans say “Fußball” (see the [soccer](/german/vocabulary/soccer) page), they mean what Americans call soccer. The sport Americans call “football” is “American Football” in German — a distinct loanword, not a translation of “Fußball”.
Common mistake
Don't say “Fußball” when you mean the American sport with pads and a helmet — that's “American Football”; “Fußball” always means soccer in German.
Quick check
What does German “Fußball” actually refer to?
More words on this topic
Keep learning German
Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
So how do Germans refer to American football?
As “American Football” — an English loanword used specifically to distinguish it from “Fußball” (soccer).
Is “Fußball” ever used for the American sport?
No — “Fußball” exclusively means soccer in German; the American sport always needs the “American” qualifier.