In 15 Seconds
- The standard way to say you are cleaning clothes.
- Combines the noun 'Wäsche' with the verb 'waschen'.
- Essential for daily life, chores, and household management.
Meaning
This phrase is used to describe the entire process of cleaning your dirty clothes, from putting them in the machine to getting them clean.
Key Examples
3 of 6Explaining your weekend plans
Ich muss am Samstag meine Wäsche waschen.
I have to do my laundry on Saturday.
Asking a roommate for help
Kannst du heute die Wäsche waschen?
Can you do the laundry today?
Inquiry at a hotel front desk
Wo kann ich hier meine Wäsche waschen?
Where can I wash my laundry here?
Cultural Background
The 'Waschküche' (laundry room) is a common feature in German apartment buildings. It often contains shared machines and strict schedules. Sunday is 'Ruhetag'. Washing laundry on Sunday, especially in older buildings with loud machines, can lead to complaints from neighbors. Similar to Germany, but you might hear 'Gewand' instead of 'Klamotten' for clothes. In many Swiss apartments, there is a shared 'Waschplan' (washing schedule) that is strictly followed.
Collective Noun
Remember that 'Wäsche' is a collective noun. You don't need to say 'clothes' (Kleidung) if you use 'Wäsche'.
The Vowel Change
Don't forget: du wäschst, er wäscht. This is the most common mistake for beginners.
In 15 Seconds
- The standard way to say you are cleaning clothes.
- Combines the noun 'Wäsche' with the verb 'waschen'.
- Essential for daily life, chores, and household management.
What It Means
Wäsche waschen is the bread and butter of adulting. It simply means cleaning your dirty clothes. You use it for the whole cycle. From sorting socks to starting the machine. It is a very literal and direct phrase. Everyone uses it every single week. It is one of those essential chores we all share.
How To Use It
The verb here is waschen. You conjugate it like a normal verb. "I wash" becomes ich wasche. "You wash" becomes du wäschst. Notice the little change in the a to ä. The word Wäsche usually stays the same. It often comes after the verb in simple sentences. You can also say Wäsche zu waschen if it is part of a longer thought.
When To Use It
Use it when planning your day. Tell your roommate you need the machine. Text your partner that the basket is full. It works in almost any daily situation. Even at a hotel, you can ask about it. It is a safe, neutral, and essential phrase. If you are staying at an Airbnb, you might ask where to do this.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for "washing up" dishes. That is abwaschen or Geschirr spülen. Don't use it for dry cleaning suits. That is in die Reinigung geben. Also, don't use it for washing yourself. That would be sich waschen or duschen. Keep it strictly for fabrics and clothes. Using it for your car would also sound very strange.
Cultural Background
Germany has a specific laundry culture. Many people hang clothes to dry outside. Tumble dryers are less common than in the US. Be careful with the Sonntagsruhe (Sunday rest). Loud washing machines can annoy neighbors on Sundays. It is a quiet day for everyone. Always check your house rules for machine times. Some older buildings have strict schedules for the shared basement machine.
Common Variations
You might hear Wäsche machen quite often. It means "to do the laundry" more broadly. This includes folding and putting it away. Wäsche aufhängen means hanging it up to dry. Wäsche zusammenlegen means folding the clean clothes. If the clothes are very dirty, use Kochwäsche. That means washing at a very high temperature. It is a very practical vocabulary set.
Usage Notes
This is a neutral, everyday collocation. It is safe to use in all social settings. Just remember that the verb 'waschen' is irregular in the second and third person singular (du wäschst, er wäscht).
Collective Noun
Remember that 'Wäsche' is a collective noun. You don't need to say 'clothes' (Kleidung) if you use 'Wäsche'.
The Vowel Change
Don't forget: du wäschst, er wäscht. This is the most common mistake for beginners.
Compound Words
Learn 'Waschmaschine' and 'Waschmittel' at the same time. They all share the same root!
Examples
6Ich muss am Samstag meine Wäsche waschen.
I have to do my laundry on Saturday.
A common way to describe a weekend chore.
Kannst du heute die Wäsche waschen?
Can you do the laundry today?
Using the phrase to delegate a task.
Wo kann ich hier meine Wäsche waschen?
Where can I wash my laundry here?
A polite, neutral question for a service.
Sorry, ich wasche gerade Wäsche. Später?
Sorry, I'm doing laundry right now. Later?
Short and functional for a text message.
Mein einziges Hobby ist Wäsche waschen.
My only hobby is doing laundry.
A relatable joke about how never-ending the task is.
Wir waschen unsere Wäsche immer zusammen.
We always do our laundry together.
Shows shared responsibility in a relationship.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'waschen'.
Er _______ heute seine schmutzige Wäsche.
The 3rd person singular of 'waschen' is 'wäscht' (vowel change a -> ä).
Which sentence is correct?
Select the natural German sentence:
'Wäsche waschen' is the standard collocation.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Hast du gestern deine Jeans gewaschen? B: Nein, ich ______ heute ______.
The speaker is saying they will do the laundry today.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are in a shared flat and want to know if the machine is free.
This is the standard way to ask if someone is currently using the washing machine.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesEr _______ heute seine schmutzige Wäsche.
The 3rd person singular of 'waschen' is 'wäscht' (vowel change a -> ä).
Select the natural German sentence:
'Wäsche waschen' is the standard collocation.
A: Hast du gestern deine Jeans gewaschen? B: Nein, ich ______ heute ______.
The speaker is saying they will do the laundry today.
You are in a shared flat and want to know if the machine is free.
This is the standard way to ask if someone is currently using the washing machine.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, but 'Wäsche waschen' is much more common for the general chore.
Grammatically, it is singular feminine ({die|f} Wäsche), but it refers to a collection of items.
'Waschen' is for textiles/body, 'spülen' is for dishes or rinsing.
Technically yes, but if it's loud, your neighbors might complain due to 'Sonntagsruhe'.
You can say 'Wäsche waschen' or 'die Wäsche machen'.
It's a public laundromat where you pay to use the machines.
Yes, it changes its vowel in the present (wäscht) and past (wusch).
It's an idiom meaning to talk about private problems in public.
No, you can say 'Ich wasche Wäsche' (general) or 'Ich wasche die Wäsche' (specific pile).
It is {die|f} Waschmaschine.
Related Phrases
Wäsche aufhängen
builds onTo hang up the laundry
Wäsche trocknen
builds onTo dry the laundry
Wäsche zusammenlegen
builds onTo fold the laundry
Schmutzwäsche
specialized formDirty laundry
Buntwäsche
specialized formColored laundry
