das
Sternzeichen
🌌 What does "das Sternzeichen" mean?
Das Sternzeichen (plural: die Sternzeichen) refers to one of the twelve sections of the zodiac that the sun passes through during the course of a year. In Astrologie (astrology), it's believed that the position of the sun at the time of birth influences a person's character and destiny. Each Sternzeichen is associated with a specific period of the year.
The 12 Sternzeichen are:
- ♈ Widder (Aries)
- ♉ Stier (Taurus)
- ♊ Zwillinge (Gemini)
- ♋ Krebs (Cancer)
- ♌ Löwe (Leo)
- ♍ Jungfrau (Virgo)
- ♎ Waage (Libra)
- ♏ Skorpion (Scorpio)
- ♐ Schütze (Sagittarius)
- ♑ Steinbock (Capricorn)
- ♒ Wassermann (Aquarius)
- ♓ Fische (Pisces)
There is only one article for this word: das. It is a neuter noun.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Deverbal nouns → immer neutral.
These are nouns derived from verbs. They are also called Verbalsubstantive or Verbalnomen.
🧐 Grammar: Declension of Sternzeichen
"Sternzeichen" is a neuter noun and takes the article das.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | das | Sternzeichen |
| Genitive (Possessive) | des | Sternzeichens |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | dem | Sternzeichen |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | das | Sternzeichen |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Sternzeichen |
| Genitive | der | Sternzeichen |
| Dative | den | Sternzeichen |
| Accusative | die | Sternzeichen |
Example Sentences
- Welches Sternzeichen bist du?
(What's your star sign?) - Mein Sternzeichen ist Löwe.
(My star sign is Leo.) - Sie liest jeden Morgen ihr Horoskop für ihr Sternzeichen.
(She reads her horoscope for her star sign every morning.) - Die Eigenschaften der verschiedenen Sternzeichen werden oft diskutiert.
(The characteristics of the different star signs are often discussed.)
💬 How to use "Sternzeichen"?
The term "Sternzeichen" is mainly used in the context of Astrologie (astrology) and Horoskope (horoscopes). It's a very common word in everyday life, especially in conversations about personality, relationships, or future predictions (even if these are often read just for fun).
- Asking for the sign: "Was ist dein Sternzeichen?" or "Welches Sternzeichen bist du?" are common questions to start a conversation or learn more about someone.
- In horoscopes: Newspapers, magazines, and websites regularly publish horoscopes organised by Sternzeichen.
- Character descriptions: Sometimes, typical character traits are associated with specific Sternzeichen (e.g., "Löwen sind mutig" - Leos are brave, "Fische sind sensibel" - Pisces are sensitive).
Although "Tierkreiszeichen" (zodiac sign) is a synonym, "Sternzeichen" is more frequently used in everyday language. It's often translated as 'star sign' in English.
💡 Mnemonics to Remember
Article "das": Imagine das big sky Zeichen (sign) is like a neutral road sign ('das Schild', 'das Zeichen' are often neuter in German) showing you the way through das universe. So, the sign ('Zeichen') among the stars ('Sternen') is das Sternzeichen.
Meaning: Think of Stern (star) + Zeichen (sign/symbol). It's a 'sign' determined by the position of the 'stars' (or rather, the sun relative to the constellations) at the time of your birth. Your 'star sign'.
🔄 Synonyms and Related Terms
Synonyms
- Tierkreiszeichen: This is a more direct and slightly more formal synonym, referring specifically to the twelve constellations of the zodiac ('Tierkreis' = zodiac, literally 'animal circle').
Related Terms
- Horoskop: An astrological forecast or analysis, often based on the Sternzeichen.
- Astrologie: Astrology, the practice of interpreting the positions of stars and planets to predict events or analyze character.
- Aszendent: Ascendant sign, another important element in astrology, the zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at the time of birth.
There are no direct antonyms for "Sternzeichen". One might contrast it conceptually with scientific astronomy or rational personality analysis.
😄 A Little Joke
Frage: "Was ist dein Sternzeichen?"
Antwort: "Keine Ahnung, ich schaue nie nach oben, ich habe Höhenangst!"
Translation:
Question: "What's your star sign?"
Answer: "No idea, I never look up, I'm afraid of heights!"
📜 Poem about the Sternzeichen
Am Himmel, hell und klar,
steht dein Zeichen, Jahr für Jahr.
Ein Sternenbild, geheimnisvoll,
ob Widder, Stier, ob Krebs, ganz toll.
Geboren unter diesem Licht,
prägt es dein Sein, dein Angesicht?
Das Sternzeichen, ein alter Brauch,
man glaubt dran oder eben auch... nicht.
Translation:
In the sky, bright and clear,
stands your sign, year after year.
A constellation, mysterious,
be it Aries, Taurus, Cancer, marvelous.
Born under this light,
does it shape your being, your face so bright?
The star sign, an ancient lore,
some believe it, others ignore... or not.
❓ Riddle Time
Ich habe zwölf Geschwister, doch wir sind nie alle zusammen am Himmel zu sehen.
Man sagt, ich präge dich, seit du auf die Welt gekommen bist, ganz unversehen.
Ich ändere mich mit dem Monat, nicht mit dem Tag allein.
Man liest über mich oft früh am Morgen, beim ersten Sonnenschein.
Was bin ich? → Das Sternzeichen
Translation:
I have twelve siblings, but we are never all seen together in the sky.
They say I shape you, since you came into the world, quite unforeseen.
I change with the month, not with the day alone.
People often read about me early in the morning, with the first sunshine shown.
What am I?
→ The star sign / zodiac sign (Das Sternzeichen)
✨ Other Information
Word Composition:
The word "Sternzeichen" is a compound noun, formed from:
- Stern (from Old High German sterno) - referring to the stars.
- Zeichen (from Old High German zeihhan) - meaning sign or symbol here.
So, it literally means "sign of the stars" or "symbol represented by stars".
Cultural Significance: Star signs play a role in many cultures, even though the scientific basis of astrology is disputed. They are a fixture in magazines, small talk, and sometimes even considerations in choosing a partner.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Sternzeichen?
The word "Sternzeichen" is a neuter noun and only uses the article das Sternzeichen. The plural form is "die Sternzeichen". It refers to the twelve zodiac signs used in astrology.