The same action carries three names depending on the language — and in German, half of them are English words. This glossary lines up all three, with the federation terms where they exist.
The translation trap, in one sentence
German basketball imports the English words — Rebound, Assist, Steal, Block, Point Guard — where French translates them: rebond, passe décisive, interception, contre, meneur. Translating into German word-for-word from French produces vocabulary no German coach uses.
Swiss note: J+S documents are written in Swiss Standard German, which writes ss and never ß — “Ballgrösse”, “begrüssen”.
Fouls and rules
| French | English | German | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faute personnelle | Personal foul | Persönliches Foul | 5 = sortie · art. 40.1 |
| Faute technique | Technical foul | Technisches Foul | 1 LF · compte aussi comme faute d'équipe |
| Faute antisportive | Unsportsmanlike foul | Unsportliches Foul | LF + possession · 2 = disqualification |
| Faute disqualifiante | Disqualifying foul | Disqualifizierendes Foul | exclusion immédiate · art. 38 |
| Quart-temps | Quarter | Viertel | 4 × 10 min |
| Remise en jeu | Throw-in | Einwurf | |
| Entre-deux | Jump ball | Sprungball | |
| Possession alternée | Alternating possession | Wechselnder Ballbesitz | |
| Zone avant / arrière | Frontcourt / backcourt | Vorfeld / Rückfeld | |
| Feuille de marque | Scoresheet | Anschreibebogen | |
| Zone de non-charge | Restricted area | Ladefreie Zone |
Statistics
| French | English | German |
|---|---|---|
| Points | Points | Punkte |
| Rebond (off./déf.) | Rebound (off./def.) | Rebound (Off-/Def-) |
| Passe décisive | Assist | Assist |
| Interception | Steal | Steal / Ballgewinn |
| Contre | Block | Block |
| Balle perdue | Turnover | Ballverlust |
| Tir / panier | Field goal | Feldwurf / Korb |
| Panier à trois points | Three-pointer | Dreier |
| Lancer franc | Free throw | Freiwurf |
| Évaluation / efficacité | Efficiency (EFF) | Effizienz (EFF) |
Positions
| French | English | German |
|---|---|---|
| Meneur | Point guard | Aufbauspieler / Point Guard |
| Arrière | Shooting guard | Shooting Guard |
| Ailier | Small forward | Small Forward / Flügelspieler |
| Ailier fort | Power forward | Power Forward |
| Pivot | Center | Center |
Sources
- FIBA — Official Basketball Rules 2024, French and German (DBB) editions for foul and game terminology.
- FIBA — Statisticians' Manual 2024 for the statistical definitions.
- Position names are common usage: no federation publishes them as official labels.
Last updated: August 10, 2026 ID :
help.basketball.glossary