der  Arm

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/aʁm/

💪 What does "der Arm" mean?

The German word der Arm (noun, masculine) primarily refers to the upper limb of the human body, extending from the shoulder (die Schulter) to the hand (die Hand). It includes the upper arm (der Oberarm) and the forearm (der Unterarm).

• Main meaning: Body part between shoulder and hand.

🚨 Attention - Potential Confusion: The word "arm" also exists as an adjective meaning "poor" or "unfortunate". This adjective is written in lowercase (unless at the beginning of a sentence) and does not take an article. Example: Ein armer Mann. (A poor man.) However, this entry focuses on the noun der Arm (the body part).

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Arm

The noun "Arm" is masculine, so the article is der. Here is its declension:

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

📜 Example Sentences

• Nominative: Der Arm tut mir weh. (My arm hurts.)
• Genitive: Die Muskeln des Arms sind stark. (The muscles of the arm are strong.)
• Dative: Ich gebe ihm einen Klaps auf den Arm. (I give him a pat on the arm.) (Note: Colloquially, accusative is often used after 'auf' here instead of dative) / Ich lege den Verband um den Arm. (I wrap the bandage around the arm. - Accusative after 'um') / Die Spritze wurde in den Arm gegeben. (The injection was given into the arm. - Accusative after 'in' indicating motion) / Die Nadel steckt in dem Arm. (The needle is stuck in the arm. - Dative after 'in' indicating location)
• Accusative: Er hebt den Arm. (He raises his arm.)
• Plural: Sie verschränkte die Arme vor der Brust. (She crossed her arms in front of her chest.)

🗣️ How is "der Arm" used?

"Der Arm" is used in many contexts:

• Everyday life: Describing body parts, movements (den Arm heben - to raise the arm), pain (mein Arm tut weh - my arm hurts).
• Medicine: Anatomical term, injuries (Armbruch - arm fracture), treatments (Spritze in den Arm - injection in the arm).
• Sports: Important for many sports (throwing, hitting, swimming).
• Idioms (Redewendungen):
  • jemandem unter die Arme greifen: to help someone out, to support someone (literally: to grab someone under the arms).
  • jemanden auf den Arm nehmen: to tease someone, to pull someone's leg (literally: to take someone onto the arm).
  • einen langen Arm haben: to have influence, to have connections (literally: to have a long arm).
  • mit offenen Armen empfangen: to welcome someone with open arms.
• Figurative meanings: Sometimes used for parts of objects resembling arms (e.g., der Arm eines Krans - the arm/jib of a crane, der Arm eines Plattenspielers - the tonearm of a record player, der Arm eines Flusses - the arm of a river).

🧠 Memory Aids for "der Arm"

Article Mnemonic

Imagine a strong man (der Mann) showing off his muscular Arm. Der strong man has der Arm. The 'er' in 'der' sounds like the 'er' ending often associated with masculine nouns or male persons.

Meaning Mnemonic

Think of an Army (sounds a bit like Arme, the plural) marching with raised arms. Soldiers use their arms.

Alternatively: The noun der Arm (body part) is the opposite of the adjective arm (poor). Someone with strong Arme (arms) might not be arm (poor) because they can work well.

↔️ Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms (Similar Words)

• Depending on context, parts of the arm might be specified: Oberarm (upper arm), Unterarm (forearm).
• Colloquially, sometimes: Griffel (more for fingers/hand, but informal).
• For animals: Vorderbein (foreleg, e.g., for quadrupeds), Flügel (wing, for birds, bats - homologous structures).
• Technical/Figurative: Hebelarm (lever arm), Kranarm (crane arm/jib), Flussarm (river arm).

Antonyms (Opposites)

• Direct antonyms for body parts are rare. Conceptually, one could contrast:
• Das Bein (the leg) (lower limb vs. upper limb).

⚠️ Similar but Different Words

• arm (adjective): means poor, destitute. Er ist ein armer Mann. (He is a poor man.) vs. Sein Arm ist gebrochen. (His arm is broken.)
• Das All: universe, space (sounds vaguely similar but completely different meaning).

😄 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Arzt den Patienten: "Na, wie geht's dem gebrochenen Arm?" Antwortet der Patient: "Danke, er ist auf dem Weg der Besserung - er winkt schon wieder!" 😉

English: The doctor asks the patient: "Well, how's the broken arm?" The patient replies: "Thanks, it's on the mend - it's already waving again!" 😉

✒️ Little Poem about the Arm

German:
Der Arm, so stark, mal schwach, mal zart,
Hält fest, was lieb uns ist und ward.
Er hebt die Last, er winkt zum Gruß,
Ein Teil von uns, bis zum Lebensschluss.
Mal schmerzt er sehr, mal fühlt er Kraft,
Durch ihn wird vieles erst geschafft.

English Translation:
The arm, so strong, sometimes weak, sometimes tender,
Holds fast what is dear to us and became.
It lifts the burden, it waves hello,
A part of us, until life's end flow.
Sometimes it hurts much, sometimes feels power,
Through it, much is accomplished every hour.

❓ Riddle

German:
Ich hänge an der Schulter dran,
Mal Frau, mal Kind, mal starker Mann.
Ich kann dich heben, halten, tragen,
Und manchmal muss ich Schmerz ertragen.
Mit meiner Hand am Ende hier,
Greifst du nach Dingen - wer bin ich?

English Translation:
I hang from the shoulder,
Sometimes woman, child, or strong man holder.
I can lift you, hold you, carry you around,
And sometimes pain must be endured, I've found.
With my hand attached right here,
You grab things with me - who am I, my dear?

Solution: Der Arm (The arm)

💡 More about "der Arm"

Compound Words (Wortzusammensetzungen)

"Arm" is part of many compound words:

• Armband: bracelet (worn on the wrist - Handgelenk - but called Armband).
• Armbanduhr: wristwatch.
• Armlehne: armrest (on a chair or sofa).
• Armlänge: arm's length (e.g., "eine Armlänge Abstand halten" - keep an arm's length distance).
• Armmuskel: arm muscle.
• Armreif: bangle (worn on the arm).

Cultural Notes

Das Verschränken der Arme (crossing the arms) can signal defensiveness or thoughtfulness. A raised arm (erhobener Arm) can be a greeting, a way to get attention (like in school), or a sign of protest.