das  Bein

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/baɪn/

🦵 What does „das Bein“ mean?

The German word das Bein (plural: die Beine) primarily has two meanings:

1. Extremity in humans and animals: It refers to the part of the body used for walking, running, and standing. In humans, it's the lower limb from the pelvis to the foot. In animals, they are the limbs that support the body. English: leg.
2. Support element in furniture or devices: It can also refer to the part of a piece of furniture (e.g., Tischbein - table leg, Stuhlbein - chair leg) or a device that serves as a support and rests on the ground. English: leg.

It is a neuter noun and always takes the article „das“.

🧐 Grammar Deep Dive: Declension of „das Bein“

„Das Bein“ is a neuter noun. It follows the strong declension pattern.

Singular

Note: In the genitive and dative singular, the ending -e (Beines, Beine) is possible but often optional or sounds slightly more formal. „Des Beins“ and „dem Bein“ are more common.

Plural

Example Sentences

• Nominative: Das Bein tut mir weh. (My leg hurts.) Der Tisch hat vier Beine. (The table has four legs.)
• Genitive: Die Muskulatur des Beines ist stark. (The musculature of the leg is strong.) Die Stabilität der vier Beine ist wichtig. (The stability of the four legs is important.)
• Dative: Ich gebe dem Bein eine Pause. (I'm giving the leg a break.) Der Tisch steht auf vier stabilen Beinen. (The table stands on four stable legs.)
• Accusative: Ich habe mir das Bein gebrochen. (I broke my leg.) Er repariert die wackeligen Beine des Stuhls. (He is repairing the wobbly legs of the chair.)

💡 How to Use „das Bein“?

„Das Bein“ is frequently used in everyday German, both in its anatomical and figurative senses.

• Anatomical: „Er hat sich das Bein verletzt.“ (He injured his leg.) „Sie hat lange Beine.“ (She has long legs.) „Der Hund wedelt mit dem Schwanz und hebt das Bein.“ (The dog wags its tail and lifts its leg.)
• Furniture/Devices: „Ein Bein des Stuhls ist locker.“ (One leg of the chair is loose.) „Das Stativ steht auf drei Beinen.“ (The tripod stands on three legs.)
• Idioms (Redewendungen): There are many German idioms featuring „Bein“, for example:
  • jemandem auf die Beine helfen: (lit. 'to help someone onto their legs') to help someone recover or become successful again.
  • sich auf die Beine machen: (lit. 'to get oneself onto one's legs') to set off, to get going.
  • etwas auf die Beine stellen: (lit. 'to put something onto its legs') to organize something, to set something up.
  • sich kein Bein ausreißen: (lit. 'to not tear out a leg for oneself') to not make a special effort.
  • Beine in die Hand nehmen: (lit. 'to take one's legs into one's hand') to run away quickly, to hurry up.
  • Lügen haben kurze Beine: (lit. 'Lies have short legs') Lies get exposed quickly.

Compared to „der Fuß“ (foot, the lowest part of the leg) or „die Gliedmaße“ (limb, more general for arm or leg), „das Bein“ specifically refers to the lower limb or a supporting structure.

🧠 Mnemonics for „das Bein“

Mnemonic for the article (das):

Think of a child pointing at a table leg: "Is DAS a Bein?" The question word 'das' (this/that) sounds like the article. Or imagine a skeleton (DAS Skelett) in a museum – it has DAS Bein.

Mnemonic for the meaning (Leg / Support):

A human needs a Bein to walk and be mobile, and tables also need a Bein to be stable. The core function is support – whether human, animal, or furniture.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar but potentially confusing words:

• das Gebein: Archaic or elevated term for bones, skeleton.
• der Knochen: The bone, the hard material inside the leg.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Arzt den Patienten: „Wo tut es denn weh?“
Patient: „Immer wenn ich hier auf mein Bein drücke.“
Arzt: „Dann drücken Sie doch nicht drauf!“

Translation:
The doctor asks the patient: "So where does it hurt?"
Patient: "Whenever I press here on my leg."
Doctor: "Well, then don't press on it!"

📜 Poem about das Bein

Ein Bein, das trägt uns durch die Welt,
Ob Sonne scheint, ob Regen fällt.
Es läuft und springt, es steht und kniet,
Ein Wunderwerk, wie man es sieht.

Auch Tische brauchen festen Stand,
Ein Bein gibt Halt, von Meisterhand.
So dient es uns auf Schritt und Tritt,
Das Bein, es hält uns alle fit.

Translation:
A leg, it carries us through the world,
Whether sun shines or rain is hurled.
It runs and jumps, it stands and kneels,
A marvel, how it truly feels.

Tables too need a firm stand,
A leg gives support, by master hand.
So it serves us at every pace,
The leg, it keeps us fit in place.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich trage dich durch Tag und Nacht,
Hab Knochen, Muskeln, voller Kraft.
Ein Tisch hat vier von meiner Art,
Mal lang, mal kurz, mal zart, mal hart.

Was bin ich? ... Das Bein

Translation:
I carry you through day and night,
Have bones, muscles, full of might.
A table has four of my kind,
Sometimes long, short, hard or soft you find.

What am I?
... The leg (das Bein)

🧩 Other Information

• Etymology: The word „Bein“ comes from the Old High German „bein“ and originally meant „Knochen“ (bone). The meaning „Gliedmaße“ (limb) developed later, presumably because the large thigh bone is so prominent. In English, the related word 'bone' has survived.
• Word Compounds (Wortzusammensetzungen): „Bein“ is part of many compound words: Hosenbein (trouser leg), Tischbein (table leg), Beinbruch (leg fracture), Beinarbeit (legwork/footwork), Storchbein (stork leg/very thin leg), Oberschenkel (thigh), Unterschenkel (lower leg), beinlang (leg-length). Note: beinhalten (to contain/include) is unrelated to the body part.
• Anatomy: In anatomy, a distinction is made between Oberschenkel (thigh - between hip and knee) and Unterschenkel (lower leg - between knee and foot). The entire structure is referred to as „das Bein“.