How do you say “The best of both worlds” in German?
The closest natural German equivalent is das Beste aus beiden Welten, which literally means “the best out of both worlds”. English speakers use the best of both worlds to mean this refers to a situation where a person can enjoy the advantages of two very different things at the same time. This expression is fully naturalized in modern German and widely used across casual and professional contexts. It is typically paired with verbs like 'haben', 'vereinen', or 'bekommen'. It is neutral, informal and common in everyday German.
Closest natural German
das Beste aus beiden Welten
[das ˈbɛstə aʊ̯s ˈbaɪ̯dn̩ ˈvɛltn̩]
- Literal meaning
- “the best out of both worlds”
- Register
- neutral, informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
95 out of 100
What a native German speaker would actually say
The English idiom 'the best of both worlds' maps almost identically onto the German 'das Beste aus beiden Welten'. Although the phrase likely entered contemporary German as a loan translation from English, it is now an entrenched, completely native-sounding idiom in everyday conversation, marketing, and media. German speakers use it without any sense of foreignness whenever two contrasting situations, lifestyles, or technologies merge to deliver all upside and minimal downside.
Grammatically, German typically uses the preposition 'aus' (out of) rather than 'von' (of). While English often treats the phrase as a standalone noun phrase or a predicate after 'have', German frequently combines it with verbs such as 'vereinen' (to unite), 'bieten' (to offer), or 'haben' (to have). Be careful not to confuse this positive notion with 'auf zwei Hochzeiten tanzen', which implies the negative consequences of overcommitting to two conflicting obligations.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity5 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in German?
das Angenehme mit dem Nützlichen verbinden
Literally: “to combine the pleasant with the useful”
More literary and focuses specifically on mixing duty/utility with pleasure.
die Vorzüge von beidem genießen
Literally: “to enjoy the perks of both”
A slightly more formal, descriptive alternative.
Don't translate it literally
auf zwei Hochzeiten tanzen
This translates to 'dancing at two weddings' and carries a negative connotation of spreading oneself too thin or trying to please opposing sides.
Word-for-word versions like these are understood as literal statements in German, not as expressions.
In context
English
Working remotely from the countryside gives me the best of both worlds.
German
Im Homeoffice auf dem Land zu arbeiten, bietet mir das Beste aus beiden Welten.
English
She enjoys the flexibility of freelancing and the security of steady clients, truly the best of both worlds.
German
Sie genießt die Flexibilität als Freiberuflerin und die Sicherheit fester Kunden – wirklich das Beste aus beiden Welten.
Related expressions
Last reviewed 2026-09-11
