das  Fundstück

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈfʊntʃtʏk/

🔍 What is a Fundstück?

A Fundstück (neuter, article das) refers to an object that has been found. This can relate to various contexts:

• An item discovered by chance (e.g., on the street, while cleaning).
• An object of particular value or interest that was found (e.g., an archaeological find, a rare collector's item at a flea market).
• Sometimes used figuratively for an interesting discovery (e.g., a quote, a curiosity).

It always refers to something concrete or abstract that was not previously owned or whose existence/location was unknown.

📐 Grammar: Das Fundstück in Detail

The word "Fundstück" is a noun and takes the article das (neuter).

Example Sentences

• Das wertvollste Fundstück der Ausgrabung war eine alte Münze.
  (The most valuable find of the excavation was an old coin.)
• Beim Spaziergang im Wald machte ich ein interessantes Fundstück: einen seltenen Pilz.
  (During a walk in the forest, I made an interesting find: a rare mushroom.)
• Diese alte Vase ist ein echtes Fundstück vom Flohmarkt.
  (This old vase is a real find from the flea market.)
• Im Archiv entdeckten wir einige historische Fundstücke.
  (In the archive, we discovered some historical finds/items.)

💡 How to Use "Fundstück"?

"Fundstück" is used to highlight a found object, often with a connotation of surprise, chance, or special interest.

• Archaeology/History: Here it refers to objects discovered during excavations or research (e.g., archäologisches Fundstück - archaeological find).
• Everyday life: Something found by chance (e.g., ein schönes Fundstück am Strand - a beautiful find on the beach).
• Collecting/Flea markets: An object acquired cheaply or unexpectedly, considered valuable or special (e.g., ein seltenes Fundstück für meine Sammlung - a rare find for my collection).
• Media/Internet: Often used for interesting quotes, images, videos, or curiosities discovered (e.g., Fundstück der Woche - find of the week).

It is more specific than the word "Fund", which can also mean the act of finding itself or a location (Fundort - finding place). "Fundstück" always refers to the found object.

🧠 Mnemonics for Remembering

Article Mnemonic: Think of "das Stück" (the piece). A Fundstück is a piece that was found. Many German words ending in "-stück" are neuter (das), like "das Frühstück" (breakfast), "das Grundstück" (plot of land). So: das Fundstück.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you find an interesting Stück (piece) – voilà, it's a Fundstück (found item)!

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words:

Be careful not to confuse "Fundstück" with "Fund" (more general) or "Fundort" (the place where something was found).

😄 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Archäologe sein Mittagessen weggeworfen?
Er dachte, es sei ein uninteressantes Fundstück! 😉

(Why did the archaeologist throw away his lunch?
He thought it was an uninteresting find!) 😉

📜 Poem about a Fundstück

Im Sand, im Keller, alt und grau,
liegt oft verborgen, kaum zu schau'n,
ein Ding aus längst vergang'ner Zeit,
für das Entdecken nun bereit.

Ein Knopf, ein Scherbe, klein und fein,
soll nun das Fundstück für uns sein.
Es flüstert leis' von dem, was war,
ein Schatz, entdeckt, so wunderbar!

(In sand, in cellar, old and grey,
Often lies hidden, hard to survey,
A thing from times long passed away,
Ready for discovery today.)

(A button, shard, so small and fine,
Shall now be this found item of mine.
It whispers softly of what has been,
A treasure, found, a wondrous scene!)

🧩 Riddle

Ich war verloren oder unbekannt,
lag still versteckt in Staub und Sand.
Mal bin ich wertvoll, alt und rar,
mal nur ein Ding, das grad' erst da.
Man freut sich, wenn man mich entdeckt,
weil Überraschung in mir steckt.

Was bin ich?

(I was lost or unknown, quite unplanned,
Lay hidden still in dust and sand.
Sometimes I'm valuable, old, and rare,
Sometimes just something newly there.
People rejoice when I am detected,
Because surprise lies unexpected.

What am I?)

Solution: das Fundstück (the found item/find)

📌 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word "Fundstück" is a compound noun, composed of:

• Der Fund: derived from the verb "finden" (to find).
• Das Stück: meaning a piece, an item, a specimen.

So, the combination literally describes "a piece that was found". The grammatical gender is determined by the base word "Stück", which is neuter (das Stück).