das
Badezimmer
🛁 What Exactly is a Badezimmer?
Das Badezimmer (plural: die Badezimmer) is a room in a house (Haus) or apartment (Wohnung) primarily used for personal hygiene (Körperpflege). Typically, you'll find a shower (Dusche) or bathtub (Badewanne), a sink (Waschbecken), and often a toilet (Toilette) there.
It's a compound noun made up of:
- baden (verb: to bathe)
- das Zimmer (noun: room)
Since the base word "Zimmer" is neuter (das Zimmer), "das Badezimmer" is also neuter. There's only this one article.
🧐 Grammar Deep Dive: das Badezimmer
The noun "Badezimmer" is neuter. Here are the declension tables:
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | das | Badezimmer |
| Genitive (Whose?) | des | Badezimmers |
| Dative (To/For Whom?) | dem | Badezimmer |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | das | Badezimmer |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Badezimmer |
| Genitive | der | Badezimmer |
| Dative | den | Badezimmern |
| Accusative | die | Badezimmer |
📝 Example Sentences
- Das Badezimmer muss dringend geputzt werden.
(The bathroom urgently needs cleaning.) - Ich gehe schnell ins Badezimmer, um mir die Hände zu waschen.
(I'm quickly going to the bathroom to wash my hands.) - Die Fliesen des Badezimmers sind neu.
(The bathroom's tiles are new.) - In unserem Haus gibt es zwei Badezimmer.
(There are two bathrooms in our house.) - Wir treffen uns vor den Badezimmern im ersten Stock.
(We'll meet in front of the bathrooms on the first floor.)
💡 How is "Badezimmer" Used?
"Das Badezimmer" refers to the room for personal hygiene. It's the most common and neutral term.
- Typical Use: In everyday conversations about apartments (Wohnungen), houses (Häuser), hotels, etc.
- Context: Refers to the room containing a sink (Waschbecken), shower/bathtub (Dusche/Badewanne). A toilet (Toilette) may or may not be included. In Germany, it's common for the toilet to be integrated into the bathroom, but separate toilet rooms (often called Gäste-WC - guest toilet) also exist.
- Distinction from other words:
- Das Bad: Often used synonymously with "Badezimmer", but can also specifically mean a bathtub or a swimming pool (Schwimmbad). "Ins Bad gehen" (going to the bathroom) is a common short form.
- Die Toilette: Primarily refers to the sanitary fixture (the WC bowl), but also the room containing (only) a toilet (often referred to as "Gäste-WC" or "stilles Örtchen" - little quiet place).
- Der Waschraum: Can be a synonym, but sometimes used for a room with just a sink or a laundry/utility room (Hauswirtschaftsraum) with a washing machine.
🧠 Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic (das): Remember das Zimmer (the room). Many German nouns ending in "-er" are masculine, but Zimmer is a key exception (it's neuter). Since "Badezimmer" ends in "Zimmer", it inherits its neuter article: das Badezimmer.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine taking a relaxing Bad (bath) in a cozy Zimmer (room) – that's exactly what a Badezimmer is!
🔄 Synonyms & Contrasts
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Das Bad: Very common, often used as a short form.
- Der Waschraum: Less common for the entire room, sometimes more specific (just a sink).
- Die Nasszelle (wet cell): More technical term, used for prefab houses/RVs.
- (Colloquial) Das Stille Örtchen (the little quiet place): Euphemism, often refers only to the toilet.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
Direct antonyms don't really exist. However, you can name functionally different rooms:
- Das Wohnzimmer: Living room.
- Die Küche: Kitchen.
- Das Schlafzimmer: Bedroom.
⚠️ Similar but Different Terms
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Warum hat der Klempner seinen Werkzeugkasten mit ins Badezimmer genommen?
Damit er einen Rohrbruch hat, falls ihm langweilig wird!
EN: Why did the plumber take his toolbox into the bathroom?
So he could have a 'pipe break' if he got bored! (Pun: Rohrbruch = pipe burst / break)
✍️ Poem about the Badezimmer
DE:
Im Badezimmer, früh am Morgen,
vertreibt das Wasser alle Sorgen.
Die Fliesen kühl, der Spiegel klar,
hier startet man ins neue Jahr... äh, Tag, wunderbar!Ob Dusche schnell, ob Wanne voll,
Hygiene finden alle toll!
EN:
In the bathroom, early morn,
Water washes worries born.
Tiles are cool, the mirror bright,
Start the new year... uh, day, just right!
Whether shower quick or tub so deep,
Hygiene's secrets everyone keeps!
❓ Riddle Time
DE:
Ich habe Fliesen, doch kein Haus.
Ich habe Wasser, doch keinen Fluss.
Man wäscht sich hier von Kopf bis Fuß.
Wie heißt der Raum, wer weiß es raus?
Lösung: Das Badezimmer
EN:
I have tiles, but am not a house.
I have water, but not a river's douse.
You wash here from head to toe, no doubt.
What is this room, can you figure it out?
Solution: The bathroom (Das Badezimmer)
🧩 Other Details
Word Composition:
"Das Badezimmer" is a clear example of a German compound noun (Kompositum):
- Determining word (Bestimmungswort): Bade (from the verb "baden" - to bathe) - specifies what kind of room it is.
- Base word (Grundwort): Zimmer (room) - determines the gender (Genus) of the entire word. Since "das Zimmer" is neuter, "das Badezimmer" is also neuter.
Cultural Note: In Germany, separating the Badezimmer (with shower/tub) from a separate Toilette (Gäste-WC or guest toilet) isn't unusual, but most apartments feature a combined solution.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Badezimmer?
The word "Badezimmer" is always neuter. The correct article is das Badezimmer. It derives its gender from das Zimmer (the room).