das Wunder
miracle
An extraordinary, inexplicable event that is often regarded as supernatural or divine.
EXAMPLE
Die plötzliche Genesung des Patienten grenzte an ein Wunder.
The patient's sudden recovery bordered on a miracle.
das Wunder
miracle / wonder
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
das Wunder
miracle
A very surprising, amazing, and fortunate thing, person, or achievement.
EXAMPLE
Es ist ein Wunder, dass bei dem Unfall niemand verletzt wurde.
It is a miracle that no one was injured in the accident.
sein blaues Wunder erleben
to be in for a nasty surprise
An idiom meaning to experience a very unpleasant or nasty surprise.
EXAMPLE
Wenn du deine Hausaufgaben nicht machst, wirst du morgen in der Schule dein blaues Wunder erleben.
If you don't do your homework, you'll be in for a nasty surprise at school tomorrow.
Usage tips
Word family
The noun 'Wunder' is the root for many other words. These include the verb 'sich wundern' (to be surprised), the adjective 'wunderbar' (very good, fantastic), and the participle 'verwundert' (surprised/astonished).
EXAMPLE
Ich wundere mich, dass er schon wieder zu spät ist.
I am surprised that he is late again.
Typical collocations
In the context of inexplicable events, 'Wunder' is often combined with certain verbs. Typical phrases are 'auf ein Wunder hoffen' (to hope for a miracle), 'an ein Wunder glauben' (to believe in a miracle), or when something 'an ein Wunder grenzt' (borders on a miracle).
EXAMPLE
Die Ärzte hatten die Hoffnung fast aufgegeben, aber die Familie glaubte fest an ein Wunder.
The doctors had almost given up hope, but the family firmly believed in a miracle.
Sentence structure with 'dass'
To describe a surprising, fortunate fact, the structure 'Es ist ein Wunder, dass ...' (It is a miracle that ...) is often used. It is followed by a subordinate clause in which the verb comes at the end.
EXAMPLE
Es ist ein Wunder, dass du die Prüfung ohne Vorbereitung bestanden hast.
It is a miracle that you passed the exam without preparing.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'sein blaues Wunder erleben' means to experience a nasty surprise. The word 'blaues' is a fixed part here, and the possessive pronoun (sein, dein, ihr, etc.) changes to match the person.
EXAMPLE
Wenn der Chef herausfindet, dass du gelogen hast, wirst du dein blaues Wunder erleben.
If the boss finds out that you lied, you'll be in for a nasty surprise.
Compare with
Wunder vs Glück
happiness / luck
When something turns out well, Glück refers to a fortunate coincidence. A Wunder goes beyond that, seeming extraordinary, almost inexplicable, or particularly astonishing. In the case of an unexpected rescue, Glück is appropriate when the fortunate coincidence is the focus, and Wunder when the outcome seems almost impossible.
Wunder
Es war ein Wunder, dass der Vermisste nach drei Tagen lebend gefunden wurde.
It was a miracle that the missing person was found alive after three days.
Glück
Es war großes Glück, dass sofort eine Ärztin am Unfallort war.
It was very lucky that a doctor was immediately at the scene of the accident.
In real life
Loading video examples...