How do you say “Make ends meet” in German?
The closest natural German equivalent is über die Runden kommen, which literally means “to get over the rounds”. English speakers use make ends meet to mean to earn just enough money to pay for basic living expenses. This is the standard, everyday idiom in German for managing financially on a limited budget. It sounds completely natural and is universally understood across all regions. Register: neutral, informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural German
über die Runden kommen
ˈyːbɐ diː ˈʁʊndn̩ ˈkɔmən
- Literal meaning
- “to get over the rounds”
- 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 'make ends meet' likely originates from bookkeeping (ensuring income and expenditures balance out) or tailoring (having enough cloth to wrap around a body). In contrast, the German equivalent 'über die Runden kommen' borrows from sports imagery, most likely boxing, where surviving each round is an endurance challenge, or running laps on a track.
Despite the different metaphors, both expressions occupy the exact same niche in practical usage: surviving on a limited budget or having just enough income to cover monthly expenses. Note that 'über die Runden kommen' can also be used more broadly outside of finances, such as managing to get through a grueling workweek or surviving an illness.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity1 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in German?
mit dem Geld auskommen
Literally: “to get by with the money”
More literal and slightly more formal/matter-of-fact.
sich über Wasser halten
Literally: “to keep oneself above water”
Carries a slightly stronger connotation of bare survival, much like 'to keep one's head above water'.
sein Auskommen haben
Literally: “to have one's livelihood”
Somewhat formal and slightly dated; implies having just enough to live.
Common translation traps
die Enden zusammenbringen
This is a direct calque of the English expression and sounds unnatural or nonsensical in German.
The notes above explain why these versions do not work in this context in German.
In context
English
With rising prices, it's getting harder and harder to make ends meet.
German
Bei den steigenden Preisen wird es immer schwieriger, über die Runden zu kommen.
English
She works two jobs just to make ends meet.
German
Sie hat zwei Jobs, nur um irgendwie über die Runden zu kommen.
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-09-11