der Dingsbums, -e

Definition & meaning

Dingsbums is a very informal, playful German word for a thing whose name the speaker cannot remember, does not know, or does not consider important. It is similar to “thingamajig,” “whatchamacallit,” or “doohickey.”

It can also be used jokingly for an unnamed person, much like “what’s-his-name” or “what’s-her-name.”

Grammar & Word origin

Dingsbums is a neuter noun: das Dingsbums. Its usual plural is die Dingsbumse, though it is often used in the singular.

The word combines Ding (“thing”) and Bums, a colloquial, vague-sounding element. Together they make a humorous, deliberately imprecise name for something.

Synonyms & antonyms

There is no exact antonym; the word is a placeholder rather than a description of a particular kind of object.

• Dingens ↗ — another informal placeholder, generally similar in meaning.
• Dingsda ↗ — a similarly playful term for something or someone whose name is not recalled.
• Gerät ↗ — means “device” or “appliance”; more specific and neutral, so it only fits when the unnamed thing is a device.
• Gegenstand ↗ — means “object” or “item”; more formal and general, without the playful tone.

Common phrases & collocations

• das Dingsbums ↗ — “the thingamajig”
• dieses Dingsbums ↗ — “this thingamajig”
• das Dingsbums da ↗ — “that thingamajig over there”