German Vocabulary: 50 Essential Words for Toiletries and Personal Hygiene

Whether you're packing for a trip to Germany, browsing the aisles of a Drogerie (drugstore), or preparing for a role-play in your German GCSE, knowing how to talk about toiletries and hygiene products is a must. This guide presents 50 essential German words for toiletries and personal care, ideal for A1 to B2 learners. Each item includes the definite article, pronunciation help, and where relevant, example sentences to help you use the vocabulary confidently in real situations.

If you're looking to expand your German vocabulary, Olesen Tuition offers expert-led 1:1 lessons, GCSE and A-level German tutoring, and engaging online German courses. Our German language blog is also packed with useful vocabulary and grammar resources.

🧴 Shower & Bath Essentials

German Term	English Translation	Pronunciation (IPA-style)
das Duschgel	shower gel	['duːʃ-geːl]
das Shampoo	shampoo	['ʃam-puː]
der Conditioner	conditioner	[kɔn-'di-ʃə-nɐ]
das Schaumbad	bubble bath	['ʃaʊm-baːt]
das Badeöl	bath oil	['baː-də-øːl]
der Badeschwamm	bath sponge	['baː-də-ʃvamm]
der Waschlappen	flannel / washcloth	['vaʃ-lapən]
die Badewanne	bathtub	['baː-də-va-nə]
die Dusche	shower	['duː-ʃə]
der Duschkopf	showerhead	['duːʃ-kɔpf]

🧼 Soap & Cleansing Products

German Term	English Translation	Pronunciation
die Seife	soap	['zaɪ-fə]
das Seifenstück	bar of soap	['zaɪ-fən-ʃtʏk]
das Flüssigseife	liquid soap	['flʏ-sɪç-zaɪ-fə]
das Gesichtswasser	toner / face wash	[ɡə-'zɪçts-vasɐ]
der Reiniger	cleanser	['ʁai-ni-gɐ]
das Reinigungsöl	cleansing oil	['ʁai-ni-gʊŋs-øːl]
das Peeling	exfoliating scrub	['piː-lɪŋ]
die Waschlotion	washing lotion	['vaʃ-lo-tsjoːn]
die Reinigungstücher	cleansing wipes	['ʁai-ni-gʊŋs-tyː-çɐ]
die Intimseife	intimate wash	[ɪn-'tiːm-zaɪ-fə]

🪥 Dental Care

German Term	English Translation	Pronunciation
die Zahnbürste	toothbrush	['tsaːn-bʏɐ̯-stə]
die elektrische Zahnbürste	electric toothbrush	[e-'lɛk-trɪ-ʃə 'tsaːn-bʏɐ̯-stə]
die Zahnpasta	toothpaste	['tsaːn-pas-ta]
das Mundwasser	mouthwash	['mʊnt-vasɐ]
die Zahnseide	dental floss	['tsaːn-zaɪ-də]
der Zungenreiniger	tongue scraper	['tsʊŋ-ən-ʁai-ni-gɐ]

🪒 Shaving & Hair Removal

German Term	English Translation	Pronunciation
der Rasierer	razor	[ʁa-'ziː-rɐ]
der Elektrorasierer	electric razor	[e-'lɛk-tʁo-ʁa-'ziː-rɐ]
der Rasierschaum	shaving foam	[ʁa-'ziːɐ-ʃaʊm]
das Rasiergel	shaving gel	[ʁa-'ziːɐ-geːl]
die Rasierklinge	razor blade	[ʁa-'ziːɐ-klɪŋ-ə]
die Enthaarungscreme	depilatory cream	[ɛnt-'haː-ʁʊŋs-kreːmə]
das Wachs	wax	[vaks]
die Pinzette	tweezers	[pɪn-'tsɛ-tə]

🧽 Grooming & Body Care

German Term	English Translation	Pronunciation
der Kamm	comb	[kam]
die Bürste	brush	['bʏɐ̯-stə]
die Nagelschere	nail scissors	['naː-gəl-ʃeː-ʁə]
die Nagelfeile	nail file	['naː-gəl-fai-lə]
der Nagelknipser	nail clippers	['naː-gəl-knɪp-sɐ]
der Spiegel	mirror	['ʃpiː-ɡəl]
die Wattestäbchen	cotton buds	['va-tə-ʃtɛːp-çən]
das Wattepad	cotton pad	['va-tə-pɛd]
das Deodorant / das Deo	deodorant	[deː-o-'ʁãː]
das Parfüm	perfume	[paʁ-'fʏm]

🧠 Everyday Phrases Using This Vocabulary

• Ich habe meine Zahnbürste vergessen.(I forgot my toothbrush.)

• Welches Shampoo benutzt du?(Which shampoo do you use?)

• Hast du ein Wattestäbchen?(Do you have a cotton bud?)

• Der Rasierer ist stumpf.(The razor is blunt.)

• Ich nehme immer mein eigenes Duschgel mit.(I always bring my own shower gel.)

Learn German for Everyday Life with Olesen Tuition

Learning German is about more than textbook phrases — it's about real-life communication, and that includes knowing how to talk about your daily routine, personal care, and health. At Olesen Tuition, we support learners of all ages and levels with:

✅ 1:1 German lessons – personalised to your needs

✅ GCSE and A-level German tutoring – with a 95% Grade 9/A* track record

✅ Online and in-person courses – taught by an Oxford-educated native tutor

✅ Engaging sessions that cover everything from grammar to real-world vocabulary

Whether you're brushing up for an exam or preparing for a trip, we’ll help you speak German with clarity and confidence.

Explore More Vocabulary on the Olesen Tuition Blog

This post is part of a wider series on practical German vocabulary. Be sure to explore our related guide on German cosmetics words, as well as our many other free resources covering grammar, idioms, revision techniques, and more — all designed to help you become a more confident German speaker.

Ready to take your German to the next level? Contact Olesen Tuition to book your first lesson or browse the blog for more inspiration.Viel Erfolg beim Lernen! – Good luck with your learning!