das  Mobiliar

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/mobiˈliːaːɐ̯/

🛋️ What does "das Mobiliar" mean?

Das Mobiliar is a collective noun for all the movable furnishings in a room, apartment, house, or building. It refers to furniture like tables, chairs, cupboards, beds, etc., as a whole.

Important: "Mobiliar" in German is almost exclusively used in the singular and is neuter, so the article is always das.

⚠️ It describes furniture collectively, not individual pieces. To talk about individual items, you would typically use "Möbelstück" (piece of furniture - das Möbelstück, die Möbelstücke) or specific names (der Tisch - the table, der Stuhl - the chair).

🧐 Grammar of "das Mobiliar"

"Das Mobiliar" is a noun of the neuter gender (das). It is a so-called Singularetantum, meaning it usually has no plural form because it already describes a collection or totality.

Declension (Singular)

Example Sentences

• Das gesamte Mobiliar des Schlosses stammt aus dem 18. Jahrhundert.
  (The entire furniture of the castle dates back to the 18th century.)
• Beim Umzug wurde das Mobiliar stark beschädigt.
  (The furniture was badly damaged during the move.)
• Wir brauchen neues Mobiliar für das Büro.
  (We need new furniture for the office.)
• Der Wert des antiken Mobiliars ist schwer zu schätzen.
  (The value of the antique furniture is hard to estimate.)

📝 Usage in Context

"Das Mobiliar" is used when talking about the furnishings of a place as a whole. It often sounds slightly more formal or elevated than the word "Möbel".

• Contexts: Descriptions of apartments, houses, offices, public buildings (e.g., in real estate listings, insurance contexts, historical descriptions).
• Style: Tends to be neutral to slightly formal. In everyday conversation, "die Möbel" is more common.
• Difference from "Möbel": "Möbel" (a plural-only noun) is the more common term for pieces of furniture. "Das Mobiliar" is specifically a collective noun and always singular. You can say "viele Möbel" (many pieces of furniture), but not "viele Mobiliare".

🧠 Mnemonics

Article Mnemonic: Think of "das Haus" (the house). What does a house need to be liveable? Right, das Mobiliar! Both are neuter.

Meaning Mnemonic: "Mobiliar" sounds like "mobile". Furniture typically consists of mobile items, i.e., movable furnishings, as opposed to the Immobilie (the immovable house/property).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but Different Words:

• Mobilien (Plural): (Movable property/assets) Generally refers to movable possessions (as opposed to Immobilien - real estate), but can also include securities, etc. A legal/economic term.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Tisch den Stuhl: "Warum schauen alle immer auf dich, wenn sie sich setzen wollen?" Antwortet der Stuhl: "Weil ich zum Mobiliar gehöre, das den Hintern unterstützt!"

Translation: The table asks the chair: "Why does everyone always look at you when they want to sit down?" The chair replies: "Because I'm the piece of furniture (Mobiliar) that supports the butt!"

📜 Poem about Furniture

Das Mobiliar, so still und stumm,
steht in dem Raum, schaut sich nicht um.
Der Tisch, der Stuhl, das Bett, der Schrank,
gehören dazu, Gott sei Dank!
Es macht das Haus zum Heim erst schön,
man kann darauf sitzen, liegen, steh'n.

Translation:
The furniture, so still and mute,
Stands in the room, doesn't look about.
The table, chair, the bed, the wardrobe tall,
Belong to it, thank God for all!
It makes the house a home so fair,
You can sit, lie, stand upon it there.

❓ Riddle

Ich bin eine Sammlung, doch zähl mich nicht in Stück.
Ich fülle Räume, bringe Wohnlichkeit und Glück.
Stühle, Tische, Schränke gehören zu mir,
mein Artikel ist sächlich, sag, wie heiße ich dir?

Translation:
I am a collection, but don't count me by piece.
I fill rooms, bring comfort and release.
Chairs, tables, cupboards belong to me,
My article is neuter, tell me, what could I be?

Solution: das Mobiliar

💡 Other Information

Etymology: The word "Mobiliar" comes from the French word mobilier, which in turn derives from the Latin mobilis (movable).

Collective Noun: It's important to understand that "Mobiliar" is a collective noun (Sammelbegriff). It groups many individual items under one term and is therefore used in the singular.