das  Kartenspiel

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/kaʁtənˌʃpiːl/

🃏 What exactly is a 'Kartenspiel'?

Das Kartenspiel (the card game) refers to two things in German:

1. A game played with playing cards: This refers to the activity of playing itself, such as Skat, Poker, or Rummy. Example: „Lass uns heute Abend ein Kartenspiel spielen!“ (Let's play a card game tonight!)
2. A deck of playing cards: This means the complete set of cards needed to play (often 32 or 52 cards). Example: „Ich habe mir ein neues Kartenspiel gekauft.“ (I bought a new deck of cards.)

It is a neuter noun and is always used with the article „das“. There are no exceptions or common pitfalls regarding the article. ⚠️ Be careful not to confuse it with the single object „die Karte“ (the card).

🧐 Grammar: Declension of 'das Kartenspiel'

The word „Kartenspiel“ is a neuter noun. Here are the declension tables:

📝 Example Sentences

• Nominative Singular: Das Kartenspiel liegt auf dem Tisch. (The card game / deck of cards is on the table.)
• Accusative Singular: Er mischt das Kartenspiel. (He shuffles the deck of cards.)
• Dative Singular: Wir widmen uns dem Kartenspiel. (We dedicate ourselves to the card game.)
• Genitive Singular: Die Regeln des Kartenspiels sind einfach. (The rules of the card game are simple.)
• Nominative Plural: Auf der Party gab es verschiedene Kartenspiele. (There were different card games at the party.)
• Accusative Plural: Kennst du gute Kartenspiele für zwei Personen? (Do you know any good card games for two people?)

💡 How to Use 'das Kartenspiel'?

The term „Kartenspiel“ is very common in everyday German, especially in contexts of leisure and social gatherings.

• As an activity: People often talk about spielen (playing), beginnen (starting), beenden (finishing) a Kartenspiel, or explaining the Regeln (rules) of a Kartenspiel. „Skat ist mein Lieblingskartenspiel.“ (Skat is my favorite card game.)
• As an object (deck of cards): You can kaufen (buy), mischen (shuffle), austeilen (deal), or verlieren (lose) a Kartenspiel. „Kannst du bitte das Kartenspiel holen?“ (Can you please get the deck of cards?)

It is rarely used figuratively. It is clearly distinguished from other types of games like Brettspiel (board game) or Würfelspiel (dice game).

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic: Think of „das Spiel“ (the game). Most compound words ending in „-spiel“ are neuter (das): das Fußballspiel (the football game), das Computerspiel (the computer game), and therefore also das Kartenspiel.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine taking a single Karte (card) and building a whole Spiel (game) out of many cards – that's das Kartenspiel.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Caution: „Die Karte“ is only a single playing card, not the entire game or deck.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Skelette nie an einem Poker-Kartenspiel teil?

Weil sie kein Pokerface haben! 😄

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(Why do skeletons never take part in a poker card game?)

(Because they don't have a poker face!) 😄

📜 Poem about the Card Game

Herz, Karo, Pik und Kreuz,
Auf dem Tisch, was uns erfreut.
Das Kartenspiel, gemischt, bereit,
Vertreibt uns Kummer, Zeit und Leid. Ob Stich, ob Satz, ob Bube, Dame, König, Ass,
Mit Freunden spielen macht viel Spaß!

---

(Hearts, Diamonds, Spades, and Clubs,
On the table, what delights us.
The card game, shuffled, ready now,
Drives away sorrow, time, and woe.
Be it trick, or set, or Jack, Queen, King, Ace,
Playing with friends brings lots of grace/fun!)

❓ Little Riddle

Ich habe Blätter, doch bin kein Baum.
Ich habe Könige, doch kein Königreich im Raum.
Man mischt mich oft, bevor man beginnt.
Was bin ich, das Freude und Spannung bringt?

Lösung: Das Kartenspiel

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(I have leaves [Blätter also means cards/sheets], but am not a tree.
I have kings, but no kingdom for thee.
I'm often shuffled before the start.
What am I, bringing joy and a thrilled heart?)

(Solution: The card game / deck of cards)

🧩 Other Interesting Details

Word Formation

The word „Kartenspiel“ is a compound noun, composed of:

• Die Karte (the card; Plural: die Karten)
• Das Spiel (the game)

The connecting „n“ (Karten-spiel) comes from the plural form of „Karte“.

Cultural Notes

Popular traditional German card games include:

• Skat
• Doppelkopf
• Rommé (often played with a French-suited deck)
• Mau-Mau (especially popular with children)