das  Stück

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ʃtʏk/

🧩 What does "das Stück" mean?

The word das Stück (noun, neuter) has several meanings:

• Piece of a whole: The most common meaning. It refers to a separated or individual part of something larger. Example: ein Stück Kuchen (a piece of cake), ein Stück Papier (a piece of paper).
• Single item/specimen: It can also refer to a single object or specimen from a larger set. Example: ein seltenes Sammlerstück (a rare collector's item), die letzten drei Stücke sind noch verfügbar (the last three pieces/items are still available).
• Work (art, music, theatre): In a cultural context, it refers to a play (Theaterstück), a piece of music (Musikstück), or sometimes a piece of art. Example: Wir gehen heute Abend ins Theater und sehen ein modernes Stück (We are going to the theatre tonight and seeing a modern play). Dieses Stück von Mozart ist wunderschön (This piece by Mozart is beautiful).
• Person (colloquial, often derogatory): Sometimes used colloquially and slightly derogatorily for a person (often referring to women, but not exclusively). ⚠️ Caution: This usage can be perceived as disrespectful! Example: "Was für ein Stück!" (meaning "What a piece [of work]!" / "What a person!")
• Unit of measure (informal): It is often used as a counter word for individual units, especially when shopping. Example: Ich nehme drei Stück Äpfel (I'll take three pieces of apples). (Grammatically more correct would be "drei Äpfel", but "drei Stück" is very common).

📐 Grammar of "das Stück"

"Stück" is a noun of neuter gender. The article is das.

*The plural form "Stück" (without ending) is used when preceded by a measure or quantity specification: zwei Stück Kuchen (two pieces of cake), zehn Stück Vieh (ten head of cattle). In other cases, the plural "Stücke" is used: die einzelnen Stücke des Puzzles (the individual pieces of the puzzle), die besten Stücke der Sammlung (the best pieces of the collection).

📖 Example Sentences

• Ich hätte gern ein Stück Apfelkuchen.
  I would like a piece of apple cake.
• Dieses Möbelstück ist ein Erbstück meiner Großmutter.
  This piece of furniture is an heirloom from my grandmother.
• Das Orchester spielte ein wunderschönes Stück von Beethoven.
  The orchestra played a beautiful piece by Beethoven.
• Kannst du mir bitte ein Stück Papier geben?
  Can you please give me a piece of paper?
• Wir brauchen noch fünf Stück Eier für das Rezept. (colloquial for "fünf Eier")
  We still need five (pieces of) eggs for the recipe.
• Die einzelnen Stücke des Geschirrs waren zerbrochen.
  The individual pieces of the crockery were broken.

💡 How to Use "das Stück"?

• Food & Drink: Very common for ordering or describing a portion or part of something edible (ein Stück Torte - a piece of gateau, ein Stück Fleisch - a piece of meat).
• Shopping: As a counter word for individual items, especially loose goods like fruit, vegetables, or baked goods (drei Stück Brötchen - three rolls, zwei Stück Tomaten - two tomatoes). Although sometimes grammatically informal, it's widely used.
• Arts & Culture: For theatre performances (Theaterstück - play), musical compositions (Musikstück - piece of music), or individual artworks/exhibits.
• Parts & Fragments: When something is broken or consists of multiple parts (in Stücke zerfallen - to fall to pieces, die einzelnen Stücke zusammensetzen - to assemble the individual pieces).
• Counting Livestock: zehn Stück Vieh - ten head of cattle.
• Idioms: "Stück für Stück" (piece by piece, gradually), "ein gutes Stück Arbeit" (a good piece of work, a lot of work), "am Stück" (in one go, without interruption), "große Stücke auf jemanden halten" (to think highly of someone).

Compared to Teil (part): "Teil" is more general and can also be used more abstractly (ein Teil des Problems - a part of the problem). "Stück" is often more concrete and implies a certain unit or distinctness.

🧠 Mnemonics for "Stück"

• Article Mnemonic (das): Think of das Kuchenstück (the piece of cake) or das Puzzlestück (the puzzle piece). Many concrete, neutral things that are parts of something are neuter ("das"). Imagine taking das last Stück (piece) of cake – it neutrally belongs to you! Or: Das makes a neutral sound, like a simple Stück.

• Meaning Mnemonic: A Stück is like a Lego brick – it can be a piece of a larger construction, a single item (one brick), or even a special work (a complex Lego creation or a theatre Stück/play). Remember the sound: "Stück" sounds a bit like "stick" or "struck" - imagine breaking something, creating a piece (Stück).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar sounding words:

• Stock (der): Sounds similar but means something completely different (stick, cane, floor/storey). Article is "der".
• Stecken (der/das): Can mean a small stick or rod.

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Ober den Gast: "Hat Ihnen das Stück gefallen?" Antwortet der Gast: "Ja, sehr gut! Aber die Schauspieler waren etwas zäh."

English Translation: The waiter asks the guest: "Did you enjoy the piece (play/piece of meat)?" The guest replies: "Yes, very much! But the actors were a bit tough." (Plays on the double meaning of "Stück" as play and piece [of meat])

📜 A Poem about das Stück

German:
Ein Stück vom Kuchen, süß und fein,
ein Stück Papier, ganz unschuldsschein.
Ein Stück Musik, das Herz erfreut,
ein Theaterstück, für alle Leut'.
Ein Puzzlestück, es fehlt genau,
Stück für Stück wird's wieder schlau.
Das Stück, es ist mal groß, mal klein,
ein Teil vom Ganzen soll es sein.

English Translation:
A piece of cake, so sweet and fine,
A piece of paper, innocently shine.
A piece of music, delighting the heart,
A theatre piece (play), for everyone a part.
A puzzle piece, missing just so,
Piece by piece, understanding will grow.
The piece, sometimes big, sometimes small,
A part of the whole, it stands for all.

🕵️‍♀️ A Little Riddle

German:
Ich kann ein Teil vom Kuchen sein,
auf der Bühne steh' ich, groß und klein.
Man zählt mit mir beim Einkauf oft,
manchmal werd' ich auch abgezopft.

Was bin ich? → das Stück

English Translation:
I can be a part of a cake,
On stage I stand, for goodness sake.
They often count with me when buying food,
Sometimes I'm simply part of wood.

What am I?
→ das Stück (the piece)

✨ More about the Word

• Diminutive: Das Stückchen (a small piece). Example: Nur noch ein Stückchen Schokolade (Just a little piece of chocolate left).
• Compound Words: "Stück" is part of many compound nouns:
  • Fundstück: a find, something found.
  • Meisterstück: masterpiece.
  • Grundstück: plot of land, property.
  • Bruchstück: fragment, broken piece.
  • Gegenstück: counterpart, equivalent.
  • Stückwerk: patchwork, fragmented work, something incomplete.