People searching for tarot cards in German want either the German card names or a deck with German text. Both exist, and the table below gives all 22 Major Arcana names in English and German.
If you want the same Pamela Colman Smith 1909 illustrations in a borderless matte deck, the Borderless Vintage Tarot Light Edition is one place to start; the German-language decks are explained below.
1909 illustrations
Borderless matte deck with the 1909 pictures
Borderless Vintage Tarot Cards — Light Edition, 1909 Classic Art
White 350 gsm card with matte anti-scratch lamination, borderless artwork and a 36-page printed guidebook.
View this deckTarot Cards in German: What Are You Looking For?
Many people know a card only by its English name, such as "Death" or "The Tower", and want to know what it is called in German. That is the first question: translating the card names.
The second question is more practical. People who are learning tarot often want a deck with the names and meanings already printed in German, so they do not have to keep looking things up. Whether such a deck exists, and what exactly is printed on it, is explained honestly below, because two of our decks look similar at first glance but differ clearly.
One note first: the German names are largely standard, the meanings are not. Every author reads the cards a little differently. For a detailed reading of each card, see the complete guide to card meanings.
The 22 Major Arcana in German
In German-speaking countries the Major Arcana have fixed names. The table gives the number, the English name and the German equivalent.
| No. | English name | German name |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Fool | Der Narr |
| 1 | Magician | Der Magier |
| 2 | High Priestess | Die Hohepriesterin |
| 3 | Empress | Die Herrscherin |
| 4 | Emperor | Der Herrscher |
| 5 | Hierophant | Der Hierophant (auch: Der Hohepriester) |
| 6 | Lovers | Die Liebenden |
| 7 | Chariot | Der Wagen |
| 8 | Strength | Die Kraft (auch: Die Stärke) |
| 9 | Hermit | Der Eremit |
| 10 | Wheel of Fortune | Das Rad des Schicksals |
| 11 | Justice | Die Gerechtigkeit |
| 12 | Hanged Man | Der Gehängte |
| 13 | Death | Der Tod |
| 14 | Temperance | Die Mäßigkeit |
| 15 | Devil | Der Teufel |
| 16 | Tower | Der Turm |
| 17 | Star | Der Stern |
| 18 | Moon | Der Mond |
| 19 | Sun | Die Sonne |
| 20 | Judgement | Das Gericht |
| 21 | World | Die Welt |
Two notes on the order: in the 1909 tradition Strength is number 8 and Justice is number 11. In older Marseille decks the two are swapped. That is why some books show different numbers.
Minor Arcana and Suits in German
The Minor Arcana consist of 56 cards in four suits. The German names of the suits are:
- Stäbe (English Wands)
- Kelche (English Cups)
- Schwerter (English Swords)
- Münzen or Pentakel (English Pentacles or Coins)
Each suit has the number cards from Ace (Ass) to Ten and four court cards: Bube (Page), Ritter (Knight), Königin (Queen) and König (King). So "Five of Swords" becomes "Fünf der Schwerter" and "Queen of Cups" becomes "Königin der Kelche".
The name of the last suit changes by source: some authors write Münzen, others Pentakel, and both mean the same suit. For single cards, see the meanings guide above.
The number cards are called Ass, Zwei, Drei and so on up to Zehn. The English pattern "Ace of Cups" becomes "Ass der Kelche" in German, and "Ten of Wands" becomes "Zehn der Stäbe". Once you know this pattern, you can translate any of the 56 cards yourself without needing a separate list.
With searches like "card name plus German", it helps to identify the suit first and then the number. The suit points to the area of life, the number to the stage of development. That way you can place an unfamiliar card quickly, even when the German name still sounds unfamiliar.
Is There a Tarot Deck With German Card Names?
Yes, in two versions that suit different readers. This is the honest part, because the difference decides the purchase.
The German Learning Tarot Deck carries German text on every card: the name with its number, the core meaning in one sentence, four upright keywords, four reversed keywords and one question. The cards are 300 gsm with a matte lamination. A printed guidebook in German is in the box, and the pictures are Smith's originals from 1909. More about such decks is in our article on tarot decks with meanings on the cards.
The German Edition goes the other way: the picture cards carry no text. The image runs to the card edge, the illustrations are also the 1909 originals, and the interpretation comes from the guidebook. That guidebook has 36 pages and is printed in German, and after purchase there is an extended German e-manual.
Both German-language decks are sold in European markets only, so they are not linked from this English page. For a deck that is available worldwide and also uses the 1909 illustrations, the Holographic Crystal Foil Tarot shifts through the rainbow as you tilt each card.
Foil finish
Original 1909 illustrations in holographic foil
Holographic Crystal Foil Tarot Cards — 1909 Classic Art
350 gsm card with holographic crystal foil and anti-scratch lamination, plus a printed guidebook.
View this deckWhich Deck Suits You?
The choice depends less on taste than on how you learn. The overview below summarises the differences.
- You are learning the cards now: the Learning deck saves looking things up, because the name, core meaning and keywords are on the card.
- You want the pictures to speak alone: the German Edition has no text on the picture cards, the image runs to the edge, and the lamination is matte and scratch-resistant.
- You prefer reading in a book: both decks come with a printed German guidebook, and the German Edition adds a detailed e-manual.
Every deck buyer also gets a free beginner course, including one in German. More about the guidebook is in our guide to tarot cards with a guidebook.
One more point is what the cards do not do: a printed word does not replace understanding. The keywords on the Learning deck are a starting point, and your own reading only develops as you lay the cards. The German Edition leaves you more room, because the picture is not narrowed by text. Both routes lead to the same goal; they differ only in pace and in how reading feels.
Check in the shop whether your country is supplied before you order the German-language decks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "The Fool" called in German?
Der Narr. It is number 0 and opens the Major Arcana. It is seen as the start of the path through the cards. You will find all 22 names in the table above.
Are there tarot cards with German card names?
Yes. The German Learning Tarot Deck prints the name, core meaning and keywords in German on every card. The German Edition, by contrast, has no text on the picture cards.
Is "Die Kraft" the same as "Die Stärke"?
Yes, both mean the same card, called Strength in English. Which word a deck uses depends on the translation. In the 1909 tradition it is number 8.
What are the German names of the four suits?
Stäbe, Kelche, Schwerter and Münzen, sometimes called Pentakel. They correspond to Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles.
Do I need prior knowledge to start with a German deck?
No. Both decks come with a printed guidebook in German, and every buyer gets a free beginner course. You can start without prior knowledge and learn step by step.
If you would like to look around first, browse our tarot decks for beginners and pick the deck that fits how you learn.
A full tarot course in English comes with every deck.
Includes a free full tarot course in English
Includes a free full tarot course in English
