das
Würstchen
🌭 What exactly is a Würstchen?
Das Würstchen (plural: die Würstchen) is the diminutive form of die Wurst (sausage).
It typically refers to a small, often thin sausage. Frequently, these are boiled or scalded sausages like Frankfurter or Wiener Würstchen (wieners).
🚨 Important: Words ending in -chen in German are always neuter. Therefore, it is exclusively das Würstchen, even though the base word die Wurst is feminine.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Deverbal nouns → immer neutral.
These are nouns derived from verbs. They are also called Verbalsubstantive or Verbalnomen.
Diminutives (-chen, -lein, ...) → immer neutral.
Always when the word is diminished; often (but not always!) with the endings -chen, -lein, -li.
🧐 Grammar: Declining 'das Würstchen'
As a noun ending in "-chen", Würstchen is always neuter (Neutrum). Here are the declension tables:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | das | Würstchen |
| Genitive (Whose?) | des | Würstchens |
| Dative (To/For whom?) | dem | Würstchen |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | das | Würstchen |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Würstchen |
| Genitive | der | Würstchen |
| Dative | den | Würstchen |
| Accusative | die | Würstchen |
Example Sentences
- Das Kind isst gerne ein warmes Würstchen.
(The child likes eating a warm small sausage.) - Der Geruch von gegrillten Würstchen zog durch den Garten.
(The smell of grilled sausages wafted through the garden.) - Zum Geburtstag gab es Kartoffelsalat und viele kleine Würstchen.
(For the birthday, there was potato salad and many small sausages.) - Gibst du mir bitte noch ein Würstchen vom Grill?
(Could you please give me another sausage from the grill?)
💡 When to use 'Würstchen'?
Das Würstchen is used in various contexts:
- Food for children: Small sausages (Würstchen) are very popular with children.
- Side dish or snack: Often served as part of a meal (e.g., with Kartoffelsalat - potato salad) or as a quick snack.
- Barbecues and parties: Würstchen are a classic for grilling (Grillen) or on buffets.
- Specific types: Terms like Wiener Würstchen or Frankfurter Würstchen are common.
Compared to Wurst (the general term for all types and sizes of sausage), Würstchen specifically refers to the small version.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
- Article Mnemonic: All the little cute things ending in "-chen" get das! Think of: Das Häuschen (little house), das Kätzchen (kitten), das Würstchen (little sausage)! The "-chen" ending signals it's neuter.
- Meaning Mnemonic: A Würstchen is just a little Wurst. The "-chen" makes it small and cute (or just small!).
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms (Similar meaning):
Related Terms:
😄 A Little Joke
Warum hat das Würstchen den Salat ausgelacht?
Weil es einen besseren Dressingcode hatte! 😉
Why did the little sausage laugh at the salad?
Because it had a better dress(ing) code!
📜 A Short Poem
Das Würstchen klein und fein,
passt gut ins Brötchen rein.
Ob heiß vom Grill, ob kalt,
schmeckt Jung und Alt.
The little sausage, small and fine,
Fits well inside a bun, divine.
Whether hot from grill, or cold,
Enjoyed by young and old.
🧩 Riddle Time
Ich bin klein und länglich,
esse gern, wer hungrig.
Man grillt mich oder kocht mich heiß,
mit Senf schmeckt's gut, wie jeder weiß.
Was bin ich?(Lösung: das Würstchen)
I am small and oblong,
Eaten gladly by the hungry throng.
You grill me or boil me hot,
With mustard, I hit the spot.
What am I?(Answer: das Würstchen / the little sausage)
✨ Other Info About das Würstchen
- Diminutive Rule: The suffix "-chen" (and also "-lein") is a diminutive form in German. It always makes the noun grammatically neuter, regardless of the original word's gender (e.g., die Wurst -> das Würstchen; der Tisch / table -> das Tischlein / little table).
- Cultural Significance: Würstchen are deeply rooted in German food culture, especially for barbecues (Grillen) and public festivals (Volksfeste).
- Common Types: Wiener Würstchen (Vienna sausages), Frankfurter Würstchen (Frankfurters), Nürnberger Rostbratwürstchen (Nuremberg sausages - although technically Wurst, often small like Würstchen).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Würstchen?
The answer is straightforward: It is always das Würstchen. The diminutive suffix "-chen" makes the noun neuter.