das
Gelege
🥚 What does "das Gelege" mean?
The word das Gelege (noun, neuter) refers to the entire set of eggs laid by a female animal (usually a bird, but also reptiles, amphibians, or insects) in one place for breeding. It represents the eggs that are intended to be incubated together, commonly known as a clutch of eggs.
It only uses the article "das" and has this primary meaning. Confusion is rare as the word is quite specific.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Ge- → mostly neutral.
Nouns beginning with Ge- are usually neutral, unless other rules apply. We do not list all Ge nouns.
Ge- → mostly neutral.
Nouns beginning with Ge- are usually neutral, unless other rules apply. We do not list all Ge nouns.
📊 Grammar of "das Gelege" in Detail
"Das Gelege" is a noun of the neuter gender (sächlich). Here are the declension tables:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | das | Gelege |
| Genitive | des | Geleges |
| Dative | dem | Gelege |
| Accusative | das | Gelege |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Gelege |
| Genitive | der | Gelege |
| Dative | den | Gelegen |
| Accusative | die | Gelege |
📝 Example Sentences
- Das Rotkehlchen bewacht sorgfältig sein Gelege. (The robin carefully guards its clutch.)
- Im Nest fanden wir ein Gelege mit fünf bläulichen Eiern. (In the nest, we found a clutch with five bluish eggs.)
- Die Henne hat das Gelege verlassen. (The hen has abandoned the clutch.)
- Viele Gelege werden von Raubtieren zerstört. (Many clutches are destroyed by predators.)
💡 How to use "Gelege"
The term das Gelege is primarily used in biological, ornithological, and nature-related contexts. It specifically describes the group of eggs laid together and usually incubated.
- Typical Contexts: Animal documentaries, technical books about birds or reptiles, nature descriptions.
- Distinction: While a Nest is the place where the eggs lie, the Gelege refers to the eggs themselves. The word Eier (eggs) is more general and can also mean individual eggs or eggs as food.
- Style: Tends to be somewhat formal or technical, but is also understood in general language when talking about bird nests.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
For the article "das": Think of das Ei (the egg). A collection of eggs is das Gelege – notice the multiple 'e's, like in neuter, which often uses 'das'. Or, imagine the eggs are laid 'there' (da), hinting at das.
For the meaning: The verb "legen" means "to lay". The hen has gelegt (laid) the eggs. The result is das Gelege (the clutch, what has been laid).
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
Antonyms (opposites):
- There isn't a direct antonym. Depending on context, you might use:
- leeres Nest (empty nest)
- geschlüpfte Jungen (hatched young)
⚠️ Similar but different words:
- das Geleise: Means track or rail (e.g., for trains). Sounds similar but is completely unrelated!
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt ein Vogelkind seine Mutter: "Mama, warum sind unsere Eier im Gelege alle unterschiedlich gefärbt?" Sagt die Mutter: "Pssst, sei leise! Das war der Kuckuck!"
(A baby bird asks its mother: "Mom, why are all our eggs in the clutch different colors?" The mother says: "Shhh, be quiet! That was the cuckoo!")
📜 A Little Poem
Im weichen Nest, so warm und rein,
liegt still verborgen, zart und klein,
das Gelege, schön und rund,
bewacht zur frühen Morgenstund'.
Aus jedem Ei, mit leisem Knack,
schlüpft bald ein Küken, huckepack.
(In the soft nest, so warm and pure,
lies hidden still, tender and small,
the clutch, beautiful and round,
guarded in the early morning hour.
From every egg, with a gentle crack,
soon hatches a chick, piggyback.)
❓ Riddle Time
Ich bin eine Gruppe, doch kein Verein,
liege im Nest, bin zerbrechlich und klein.
Ein Vogel wacht über mich Tag und Nacht,
bis neues Leben aus mir erwacht.
Was bin ich?
... Das Gelege
(I am a group, but not a club,
I lie in the nest, am fragile and small.
A bird watches over me day and night,
until new life awakens from me.
What am I?
... The clutch (das Gelege))
ℹ️ More Interesting Facts
Word Formation (Wortbildung): The word "Gelege" is derived from the verb "legen" (to lay). The prefix "Ge-" combined with the suffix "-e" often forms collective nouns in German (e.g., das Gebirge - mountain range, das Gemüse - vegetables). So, it describes a collection of something that has been laid.
Trivia: The number of eggs in a Gelege can vary greatly depending on the animal species – from a single egg (e.g., in albatrosses) to hundreds or thousands (in some insects or fish).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Gelege?
The word "Gelege" is always neuter: das Gelege. It refers to the collection of eggs laid by an animal in a nesting place, typically associated with birds or reptiles (a clutch).