der
Apfel
🍎 What does "der Apfel" mean?
Der Apfel (plural: die Äpfel) means 'apple', the well-known fruit from the apple tree (Apfelbaum, Malus domestica). It's a type of pome fruit (Kernobst). Apples come in many varieties, colours (rot, grün, gelb - red, green, yellow), and flavours (süß, sauer - sweet, sour).
The word Apfel is masculine in German, so the definite article is always der.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-el → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. there are many -el words, we don't list them all.
The Grammar of "der Apfel" 🧐
Apfel is a noun (Substantiv or Nomen) and its grammatical gender is masculine (Maskulinum). Therefore, the article is der. Here's the declension (Deklination):
Declension Singular
| Case (Fall/Kasus) | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (1st case) | der Apfel | ein Apfel (an apple) |
| Genitive (2nd case) | des Apfels | eines Apfels (of an apple) |
| Dative (3rd case) | dem Apfel | einem Apfel (to/for an apple) |
| Accusative (4th case) | den Apfel | einen Apfel (an apple) |
Declension Plural
The plural of Apfel is Äpfel (with an umlaut). The plural article is always die.
| Case (Fall/Kasus) | Definite Article | Indefinite/Negative Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (1st case) | die Äpfel (the apples) | Äpfel / keine Äpfel (apples / no apples) |
| Genitive (2nd case) | der Äpfel (of the apples) | Äpfel / keiner Äpfel (of apples / of no apples) |
| Dative (3rd case) | den Äpfeln (to/for the apples) | Äpfeln / keinen Äpfeln (to/for apples / to/for no apples) |
| Accusative (4th case) | die Äpfel (the apples) | Äpfel / keine Äpfel (apples / no apples) |
Example Sentences
- Nominativ: Der Apfel ist rot und saftig. (The apple is red and juicy.)
- Genitiv: Der Geschmack des Apfels war süß. (The taste of the apple was sweet.)
- Dativ: Ich gebe dem Apfel einen Bissen. (rare) (I give the apple a bite. - More common: Ich beiße in den Apfel. - I bite into the apple.)
- Akkusativ: Er isst einen Apfel zum Frühstück. (He eats an apple for breakfast.)
- Plural Nominativ: Die Äpfel liegen im Korb. (The apples are lying in the basket.)
- Plural Akkusativ: Sie kauft viele Äpfel auf dem Markt. (She buys many apples at the market.)
Everyday Use: Der Apfel 🍎
Apfel is a very common word in German.
- Direct Meaning: Mostly used for the fruit itself. "Ich hätte gern einen Apfel." (I would like an apple.)
- In Compounds: Very frequent in compound words (zusammengesetzte Wörter):
- Apfelbaum: apple tree
- Apfelsaft: apple juice
- Apfelmus: applesauce
- Apfelkuchen: apple cake/pie
- Apfelstrudel: apple strudel (a pastry)
- Apfelschorle: apple juice mixed with sparkling water
- Idioms (Redewendungen):
- "Ein Apfel am Tag hält den Doktor fern." (An apple a day keeps the doctor away.) - Proverb for health.
- "Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm." (The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.) - Children often resemble their parents.
- "In den sauren Apfel beißen müssen." (To have to bite the sour apple.) - To have to do something unpleasant.
- "Äpfel mit Birnen vergleichen." (To compare apples with pears/oranges.) - To compare two incomparable things.
⚠️ Remember to use the plural form "Äpfel" with an umlaut.
How to Remember "der Apfel" 🧠
Mnemonic for the Article (der):
Imagine a strong man – in German, a common word for man/guy is 'der Kerl' – biting into an apple. Der Kerl eats der Apfel. The masculine 'Kerl' helps remember the masculine 'der Apfel'.
Mnemonic for the Meaning (fruit):
"Apfel" sounds very similar to the English word "apple" and means the same thing. You can also link it to Apotheke (pharmacy) – the apple was traditionally seen as medicinal ("An apple a day...").
Similar & Opposite Words ↔️
Synonyms (Words with similar meaning):
- Kernobst: (Pome fruit) - A general term for fruits like apples and pears.
- (Colloquially, depending on context): Sometimes just Frucht (fruit) or Obst (fruit, collective).
Antonyms (Opposite words):
There isn't a direct antonym for "Apfel". In the context of food, you might contrast it with other fruits (e.g., die Banane - the banana) or vegetables (e.g., die Karotte - the carrot).
Similar Sounding Words (Caution!):
- Affel: Not a German word, likely a misspelling.
A Little Apple Joke 😂
DE: Warum gehen Äpfel zur Schule?
Damit sie Kernkompetenzen lernen!
EN: Why do apples go to school?
So they can learn core competencies! (Pun on "Kern" = core/pip and "Kernkompetenzen" = core competencies)
A Poem About the Apple 📜
DE:
Rot oder grün, hängt stolz am Baum,
Der Apfel, süßer, saft'ger Traum.
Gesund und rund, für Groß und Klein,
Ein Biss hinein, das muss doch sein!
Vom Kern zum Saft, zum Kuchen fein,
So viel kann dieser Apfel sein.
EN:
Red or green, hangs proudly on the tree,
The apple, sweet and juicy dream for me.
Healthy and round, for young and old,
A bite into it, brave and bold!
From core to juice, to cake so fine,
So much this single apple can combine.
Apple Riddle 🤔
DE:
Ich bin rund und häng' am Zweige,
Mal rot, mal grün ich mich zeige.
Man macht aus mir Saft und auch Mus,
Und fall' nicht weit vom Stamm, zum Schluss.
Was bin ich?
Lösung: Der Apfel
EN:
I am round and hang on a branch,
Sometimes red, sometimes green, I present myself perchance.
They make juice and sauce from me, it's true,
And I don't fall far from the trunk, for you.
What am I?
Answer: The Apple (Der Apfel)
Trivia & Fun Facts ✨
- Origin (Herkunft): The cultivated apple originally comes from Central Asia.
- Symbolism (Symbolik): The apple holds symbolic meaning in many cultures, e.g., as a symbol of knowledge (biblical fall), love, fertility, or power (Reichsapfel - imperial orb).
- Variety (Sortenvielfalt): There are thousands of apple varieties worldwide with different characteristics. Well-known varieties in Germany include Elstar, Boskoop, Jonagold, and Granny Smith.
- Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung): The word "Apfel" is an old Germanic word (compare English "apple", Dutch "appel").
Summary: is it der, die or das Apfel?
The word "Apfel" referring to the common fruit is always masculine in German. Therefore, the correct article is definitively der Apfel.