The German word for “beetle” that became the Volkswagen Beetle’s nickname is Käfer.
The car was officially known as the Volkswagen Type 1, but its rounded shape encouraged informal insect-related names in different languages. In German-speaking countries, Käfer—literally “beetle”—became the familiar name. The English-speaking nicknames “Beetle” and “Bug” developed separately and should not be confused with the German term.
The car’s early official identity was also different. Before and during the Second World War, it was associated with the name KdF-Wagen, short for “Kraft durch Freude” (“Strength through Joy”). After postwar production resumed, Volkswagen generally used the Type 1 designation, while Käfer became increasingly established in Germany.
Volkswagen itself adopted Käfer in German advertising during the late 1960s. The original Beetle was produced from 1938 to 2003, with more than 21.5 million built worldwide, making its German nickname one of the best-known automobile names in history.