das  Loch

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/lɔx/

Meaning of "das Loch"

The German word das Loch (neuter noun) primarily means hole or gap. It has several related meanings:

• Physical opening/cavity: This is the most common meaning. A void in a solid material or in the ground.
  • Example: Ein Loch im Strumpf (a hole in the sock), ein Loch in der Wand (a hole in the wall), ein tiefes Loch im Garten (a deep hole in the garden).
• Gap/missing part: A missing element in something, e.g., in data, knowledge, or a sequence.
  • Example: Ein Loch im Gedächtnis (a gap in memory), ein Loch in der Argumentation (a hole in the argument).
• Colloquial for a small, remote, or unattractive place: Often used pejoratively, like a dump or hick town.
  • Example: „Wir wohnen in einem richtigen Loch.“ (We live in a real dump.)
• Colloquial for prison: Sometimes referred to as 'the hole'.
  • Example: „Er sitzt im Loch.“ (He's in the slammer/hole.)
• Financial shortfall/deficit:
  • Example: „Wir haben ein Loch in der Kasse.“ (We have a hole in our finances/budget.)

⚠️ Note: The specific meaning is usually clear from the context.

Grammar Insights: das Loch

Loch is a neuter noun. The definite article is das.

Declension (Beugung)

Note: The '-e-' in the Genitive and Dative singular (Loches, Loche) is often omitted in modern German, especially in spoken language.

Example Sentences (Beispielsätze)

1. Der Maulwurf gräbt ein tiefes Loch im Rasen. (The mole digs a deep hole in the lawn.)
2. Stopf bitte das Loch in deiner Socke! (Please darn the hole in your sock!)
3. Nach dem Umzug hatten wir ein großes Loch in der Haushaltskasse. (After moving, we had a big hole in our household budget.)
4. Dieses kleine Dorf ist wirklich ein vergessenes Loch. (This small village is really a forgotten dump/hole.)
5. Er fiel in ein tiefes Loch nach der Trennung. (He fell into a deep hole/depression after the breakup. - Figurative)

How and When to Use "das Loch"

The usage of das Loch is quite versatile:

• Everyday life: For visible openings like Löcher in clothes (holes), roads (Schlagloch - pothole), or cheese (holes).
• Technical/Crafts: Bohrloch (drill hole), Astloch (knothole in wood), Knopfloch (buttonhole).
• Science: Ozonloch (ozone hole), Schwarzes Loch (black hole in astronomy).
• Figurative/Metaphorical:
  • Time: Ein Loch im Terminkalender (a gap in the schedule).
  • Knowledge/Information: Wissenslücke (knowledge gap), Erinnerungslücke („ein Loch im Gedächtnis haben“ - to have a gap in one's memory).
  • Financial: Haushaltsloch (budget deficit), Finanzloch (financial hole).
  • Emotional: Sich in einem Loch befinden (to be in a slump, feel depressed).
  • Geographical (pejorative): A remote, unattractive place (Kaff, Nest - dump, hick town).

Distinguishing from similar words:

• Öffnung (opening): More general. A Loch is a specific type, often going through material or being a depression.
• Spalt/Spalte (crack, slit, gap): A narrow, elongated opening.
• Lücke (gap): More often refers to a missing part in a series or continuity (e.g., Zahnlücke - gap between teeth, Textlücke - gap in a text).
• Grube (pit): A large hole, usually dug in the ground.

Memory Aids for "das Loch"

1. Article Mnemonic (das): Think of something neuter with holes: das Sieb (the sieve). A sieve has lots of little holes. Das Sieb, das Loch. Or maybe visualize 'it' (neuter 'es' in German relates to 'das') falling into das Loch.

2. Meaning Mnemonic (Hole/Gap): Imagine looking through something with two 'O's like Loch, like binoculars, and seeing... nothing, just a gaping Loch! Or think: when something is missing, there's an 'Oh!', a Loch.

Synonyms & Antonyms for "das Loch"

Watch out for similar-sounding words: Don't confuse das Loch with words like der Lohn (wage, salary) or das Lob (praise).

A Little Fun: A Joke

German:
Fragt der Lehrer: „Was ist ein Vakuum?“
Meldet sich Fritzchen: „Ich hab's im Kopf, Herr Lehrer, aber ich komm' gerade nicht drauf!“

English Translation:
The teacher asks: “What is a vacuum?”
Little Fritz raises his hand: “I have it in my head, teacher, but I just can't think of it right now!”

(This plays on the idea of having a 'hole' or 'gap' in one's memory, or the head being empty like a vacuum.)

Another one:

German:
Warum graben Archäologen Löcher?
Weil sie eine tiefergehende Beziehung zur Vergangenheit suchen!

English Translation:
Why do archaeologists dig holes?
Because they seek a deeper relationship with the past!

Creative Corner: A Poem

Ein kleines Gedicht

Ein Loch ist meistens einfach rund,
Mal in der Wand, mal bunt im Grund.
Mal ist es tief, mal ist es klein,
Man fällt auch besser nicht hinein!

Im Strumpf, da stört es ungemein,
Im Käse schmeckt es dafür fein.
Das Loch, so simpel und doch klar,
Ist hier und dort und immer da.

English Translation:

A hole is often simply round,
In the wall, or coloured on the ground.
Sometimes it's deep, sometimes it's small,
It's better not to take a fall!

In a sock, it bothers great deal,
In cheese, however, fine appeal.
The hole (das Loch), so simple, yet so clear,
Is here and there and always near.

Riddle Time!

German:

Ich habe keine Stimme, doch ich kann Leere zeigen.
Ich habe keine Hände, doch im Boden kann ich mich neigen.
Man stopft mich manchmal zu, doch graben macht mich groß.
Ich bin mal nützlich, mal ein Ärgernis bloß.

Was bin ich?

English Translation:

I have no voice, yet I can show emptiness.
I have no hands, yet in the ground I can bend (exist/be dug).
Sometimes I'm plugged up, but digging makes me large.
Sometimes I'm useful, sometimes just an annoyance.

What am I? (... Das Loch / A hole)

More About "Loch": Trivia & Compounds

• Etymology: The word Loch comes from Old High German loh, which originally meant 'thicket, forest' but could also denote a clearing or opening in the forest. The meaning later narrowed to 'opening'.
• Compound Words (Wortzusammensetzungen): German loves compounds! Many exist with Loch:
  • Schlüsselloch (keyhole)
  • Knopfloch (buttonhole)
  • Mauseloch (mousehole)
  • Ozonloch (ozone hole)
  • Funkloch (dead spot for mobile reception)
  • Schlagloch (pothole)
  • Astloch (knothole)
  • Windloch (colloq. for remote place, lit. 'wind hole')
  • Finanzloch (financial hole/deficit)
  • Schwarzes Loch (black hole)
• Idioms (Redewendungen):
  • Ein Loch in den Bauch fragen: (lit. 'to ask a hole into someone's belly') - To ask someone tons of questions.
  • Sich in ein Loch verkriechen: (lit. 'to crawl into a hole') - To withdraw, be depressed.
  • Aus dem letzten Loch pfeifen: (lit. 'to whistle from the last hole') - To be completely exhausted, running on fumes.
  • Ein Loch stopfen: (lit. 'to plug a hole') - To fix a deficit (often financial).