das
T-Shirt
👕 What exactly is a T-Shirt?
The German word das T-Shirt [-ˈʃøːɐ̯t] refers to a piece of clothing for the upper body, usually made of cotton or a blend, with short sleeves and typically without a collar or buttons. Its name derives from its shape, which resembles the letter "T".
It's a very common item of clothing for leisure and sports. It often features prints, patterns, or logos.
🚨 Important: The word "T-Shirt" is an Anglicism (borrowed from English) and is neuter in German, so it's always das T-Shirt.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Many foreign words → mostly neutral.
There are many foreign words, we won't list them all.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: das T-Shirt
The noun "T-Shirt" is neuter (sächlich). Here is its declension:
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | das | T-Shirt |
| Genitive (Whose?) | des | T-Shirts |
| Dative (To whom?) | dem | T-Shirt |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | das | T-Shirt |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | T-Shirts |
| Genitive | der | T-Shirts |
| Dative | den | T-Shirts |
| Accusative | die | T-Shirts |
💡 Example Sentences
- Ich trage heute mein Lieblings-T-Shirt. (I'm wearing my favorite T-shirt today.)
- Die Farbe des T-Shirts gefällt mir gut. (I like the color of the T-shirt.)
- Ich habe dem T-Shirt einen Fleck verpasst. (I got a stain on the T-shirt.)
- Er kauft sich ein neues T-Shirt. (He's buying himself a new T-shirt.)
- Im Schrank liegen viele bunte T-Shirts. (There are many colorful T-shirts in the closet.)
👟 When to use "das T-Shirt"?
"Das T-Shirt" is mainly used in the following contexts:
- Everyday wear: It's a basic piece of clothing for casual occasions, at home, during leisure time, or for sports.
- Fashion: T-shirts often carry fashion statements, band logos, political messages, or artistic designs.
- Underwear: Sometimes, a plain white T-shirt is worn as an undershirt (Unterhemd), especially under dress shirts (Hemden).
- Workwear: In some industries (e.g., crafts, gastronomy), printed T-shirts are part of the work uniform.
Compared to a Hemd (dress shirt/button-up shirt), das T-Shirt is more informal. Compared to a Top, it typically has sleeves. A Poloshirt (polo shirt) has a collar and usually a short button placket, making it slightly dressier than a standard T-shirt.
🧠 How to remember "das T-Shirt"
Remembering the article "das"
Think of the English word "the". While not a perfect rule, many international words or Anglicisms in German take the neuter article "das". Imagine it's just the T-shirt, a neutral basic item. Or link it to das Kind (the child) – children often wear T-shirts. Das Kind needs das T-Shirt.
Remembering the meaning
Look at the letter T. The garment looks just like it: a straight torso part and two short 'arms' (sleeves) to the side. That's the shape of the T-Shirt! Easy!
🔄 Similar and Opposite Words
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Shirt: Often used synonymously, but can also refer to upper body garments more generally.
- Leibchen/Leiberl (regional, dated): More common in the past, now often refers to undershirts or sports jerseys.
Antonyms (Opposites in Clothing Context)
⚠️ Note: "Top" is sometimes used similarly, but often refers to sleeveless upper body garments.
😂 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Lehrer: "Was ist sauberer als ein weißes T-Shirt?"
Schüler: "Zwei weiße T-Shirts!"
English Translation: The teacher asks: "What's cleaner than a white T-shirt?"
Student: "Two white T-shirts!"
✍️ T-Shirt Poetry
German:
Das T-Shirt, schlicht und doch genial,
in Form des T, ganz funktional.
Aus Baumwolle, bequem und leicht,
für Sport und Freizeit schnell erreicht.
Mal bunt, mal weiß, mal mit viel Druck,
ein universelles Lieblingsstück.
English Translation:
The T-shirt, simple yet brilliant,
In the shape of T, quite functional.
Made of cotton, comfy and light,
For sports and leisure, reached with might.
Sometimes colorful, white, or printed,
A universal favorite item hinted.
🤔 Who or what am I?
German:
Ich habe einen Körper, aber keine Beine.
Ich habe Ärmel, aber keine Arme.
Ich habe einen Namen, der wie ein Buchstabe klingt.
Man trägt mich oft, wenn die Sonne singt.
Was bin ich?
English:
I have a body, but no legs.
I have sleeves, but no arms.
I have a name that sounds like a letter.
People often wear me when the sun makes things better.
What am I?
Solution: Das T-Shirt (The T-Shirt)
✨ More about the T-Shirt
- Origin: The T-shirt originated in the early 20th century as underwear for the US Navy and became popular as outerwear after World War II.
- Materials: Cotton is the most common, but polyester, viscose, or blends are also used. (Materialien: Baumwolle, Polyester, Viskose, Mischgewebe)
- Variations: There are many variations like V-neck (V-Ausschnitt), crew neck (Rundhals), long-sleeved T-shirts (Langarm-T-Shirts), etc.
- Composition: The word is a direct borrowing from English: T (shape) + Shirt (Hemd).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das T-Shirt?
The word "T-Shirt" is an Anglicism (borrowed from English) and is always neuter in German. Therefore, the correct article is unequivocally das T-Shirt.