How do you say “Tie the knot” in German?
The closest natural German equivalent is Heiraten, which literally means “To marry”. English speakers use tie the knot to mean to get married to someone. The everyday verb is the most reliable choice; it loses the playful image of the English. It is neutral and common in everyday German.
Closest natural German
Heiraten
/ˈhaɪʁaːtn̩/
- Literal meaning
- “To marry”
- Register
- neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Close equivalent
85 out of 100
What a native German speaker would actually say
English turns marriage into a knot that binds two people. Everyday German usually says “heiraten” directly.
For the cheerful tone of a wedding announcement, “sich das Jawort geben” is closer. The plain verb fits a wider range of conversations.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone3 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?
Sich das Jawort geben
Literally: “To give each other the yes-word”
Warm wording for a wedding announcement.
Den Bund fürs Leben schließen
Literally: “To conclude the bond for life”
More ceremonial, useful in wedding speeches.
Don't translate it literally
Den Knoten binden
This describes tying an actual knot rather than getting married.
Word-for-word versions like these are understood as literal statements in German, not as expressions.
In context
English
They’re tying the knot in June.
German
Sie heiraten im Juni.
English
We finally tied the knot last summer.
German
Wir haben letzten Sommer endlich geheiratet.
Related expressions
Last reviewed 2026-09-12