How do you say “It takes two to tango” in German?
The closest natural German equivalent is Es gehören immer zwei dazu, which literally means “Two always belong to it”. English speakers use it takes two to tango to mean both people involved in a difficult situation or argument share the blame or responsibility. This is the universal, completely idiomatic phrase used whenever two parties share responsibility for a conflict or relationship issue. Native speakers use it constantly in everyday conversation. It is neutral, informal and common in everyday German.
Closest natural German
Es gehören immer zwei dazu
[ɛs ɡəˈhøːʁən ˈɪmɐ t͡svaɪ̯ daˈt͡suː]
- Literal meaning
- “Two always belong to it”
- Register
- neutral, informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
94 out of 100
What a native German speaker would actually say
The English idiom 'it takes two to tango' relies on the imagery of partner dancing to highlight shared responsibility, complicity, or mutual fault in an argument or relationship. In German, there is no dance metaphor used in natural speech. Instead, speakers rely on the firmly established idiom 'Es gehören immer zwei dazu' (or 'Da gehören immer zwei dazu').
While literal translations like 'Zum Tango gehören zwei' occasionally pop up in dubbed movies or pop culture contexts, they sound artificial to native ears. Sticking to 'Es gehören immer zwei dazu' conveys the exact same tone and nuance of mutual accountability without sounding translated.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity2 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in German?
Da gehören immer zwei dazu
Literally: “Two always belong to that”
A very common conversational variation starting with 'da'.
Zum Streiten gehören immer zwei
Literally: “Quarreling always requires two”
Specifically tailored to arguments and fights.
Don't translate it literally
Zum Tango gehören zwei
This is a literal calque from English that sounds like lazy dubbing translation rather than authentic German.
Word-for-word versions like these are understood as literal statements in German, not as expressions.
In context
English
Don't put all the blame on him; it takes two to tango.
German
Gib nicht ihm die alleinige Schuld; es gehören immer zwei dazu.
English
Their marriage fell apart, but it takes two to tango.
German
Ihre Ehe ist gescheitert, aber da gehören immer zwei dazu.
Related expressions
Last reviewed 2026-09-11