der
Besen
🧹 What does "der Besen" mean?
Der Besen is the German word for broom. It's a cleaning tool primarily used for sweeping floors, paths, or other surfaces. It typically consists of a long handle (der Stiel) and a bundle of bristles (die Borsten), originally often twigs (das Reisig), but now usually plastic or plant fibers.
There is only this one main meaning for der Besen. The word is always masculine.
- Example: Nimm bitte den Besen und kehre die Küche. (Please take the broom and sweep the kitchen.)
Article rules for der, die, and das
-en → mostly masculine.
1. All diminutives with '-chen' are neutral, like 'das Mädchen'. 2. Nouns derived from verbs are always neutral ('das Schrieben'). 3. There are many -en words, we won't list them all.
📊 Grammar of "der Besen"
The noun "Besen" is masculine. The article is der.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Meaning) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Besen | (the broom) |
| Genitive | des | Besens | (of the broom) |
| Dative | dem | Besen | (to/for the broom) |
| Accusative | den | Besen | (the broom) |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Meaning) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Besen | (the brooms) |
| Genitive | der | Besen | (of the brooms) |
| Dative | den | Besen | (to/for the brooms) |
| Accusative | die | Besen | (the brooms) |
📝 Example Sentences
- Der Besen steht in der Ecke. (The broom is standing in the corner. - Nominative Singular)
- Der Stiel des Besens ist abgebrochen. (The handle of the broom is broken. - Genitive Singular)
- Ich kehre mit dem neuen Besen. (I am sweeping with the new broom. - Dative Singular)
- Kannst du mir den Besen geben? (Can you give me the broom? - Accusative Singular)
- Die alten Besen müssen ersetzt werden. (The old brooms need to be replaced. - Nominative Plural)
- Die Borsten der Besen sind abgenutzt. (The bristles of the brooms are worn out. - Genitive Plural)
- Mit diesen Besen kann man gut fegen. (You can sweep well with these brooms. - Dative Plural)
- Wir brauchen neue Besen für den Hof. (We need new brooms for the yard. - Accusative Plural)
💡 How to use "Besen"?
"Besen" is used in everyday language for the sweeping tool. Germans often differentiate based on material or place of use:
- Straßenbesen: A robust broom for outdoor use (street broom).
- Zimmerbesen/Kehrbesen: A finer broom for indoor use (indoor broom/sweeping broom).
- Handbesen: A small hand broom, often part of a set with a dustpan (Kehrschaufel).
- Reisigbesen: A traditional broom made of twigs (often associated with witches 🧙♀️).
Typical verbs used with "Besen" are kehren or fegen (both mean to sweep).
Idiom: "Neue Besen kehren gut." (Literally: "New brooms sweep well.") – Means that new people (e.g., in a job) are often very dedicated and effective initially.
⚠️ Don't confuse "Besen" with "Bürste" (brush). A Bürste usually has shorter bristles and is often used for scrubbing or applying substances.
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Besen"
Remembering the Article "der"
Imagine a strong man (der Mann) vigorously sweeping the yard with a large Besen. The masculine image helps recall "der Besen". Alternatively, think that sweeping can be hard work, a 'man's job' (stereotypically!), so it's der Besen.
Remembering the Meaning "Broom"
The word "Besen" sounds a bit like the English word "basin". Imagine you've swept up all the dirt with your Besen and now you need a basin to wash the floor afterwards. Or, maybe the *Besen* helps make things *based* and clean on the floor.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Words with similar meaning):
- Feger: Often used colloquially for Besen.
- Kehrbesen: Specifically a broom for sweeping (often indoors).
- Schrubber: Also a cleaning tool with a handle, but usually with harder bristles for scrubbing (not a direct synonym, but related).
- Wischer/Mopp: Used for wet mopping, not sweeping (not a synonym).
Antonyms (Opposites):
There isn't a direct antonym. However, you could name devices with opposite functions:
- Staubsauger: Sucks up dirt instead of sweeping it together (vacuum cleaner).
- Kehrschaufel (Kehrblech): Collects the dirt swept up by the Besen (dustpan - complements the broom).
Similar Words (Potential for Confusion):
- Bürste: Usually has shorter bristles and often no long handle (e.g., Handbürste - hand brush, Zahnbürste - toothbrush).
- Pinsel: Used for applying paint or similar substances (paintbrush).
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der kleine Besen den großen Besen: "Mama, wann bekommen wir endlich einen Staubsauger?"
Sagt der große Besen: "Sei still, mein Kind, über Saug-Geschichten spricht man nicht!"
Translation:
The little broom asks the big broom: "Mom, when will we finally get a vacuum cleaner?"
The big broom says: "Be quiet, my child, we don't talk about sucking stories!" (It's a pun, as "Saug-Geschichten" sounds like dirty stories).
📜 Poem about the Broom
Der Besen, brav und alt,
kehrt Staub und Schmutz, ob warm, ob kalt.
Mit langem Stiel, mit Borstenhaar,
macht er den Boden wieder klar.
Er tanzt im Hof, fegt durch das Haus,
treibt Spinnweb und den Dreck hinaus.
Ein schlichter Helfer, stets bereit,
für Sauberkeit zu jeder Zeit.
Translation:
The broom, trusty and old,
Sweeps dust and dirt, be it warm or cold.
With a long handle, with bristle hair,
It makes the floor clear again, with care.
It dances in the yard, sweeps through the house,
Drives out cobwebs and the louse (dirt).
A simple helper, always prepared,
For cleanliness, its service shared.
❓ Riddle
Ich habe einen Stiel, doch bin kein Baum,
habe Borsten, doch kämme keinen Flaum.
Ich tanze auf dem Boden hin und her,
und mache sauber, bitte sehr!
Was bin ich?
Translation:
I have a handle (stem), but am not a tree,
I have bristles, but comb no downy decree.
I dance on the floor, back and forth I roam,
And I make things clean, right here at home!
What am I?
Solution: Der Besen (The broom)
📌 Other Information
Word Origin (Etymology)
The word "Besen" comes from the Old High German word "besamo", which originally meant "bundle of twigs". This reflects the traditional way brooms were made from birch twigs (Birkenreisig).
Cultural Significance
The Besen is strongly associated with the image of the witch (Hexe 🧙♀️), who, according to legend, can ride on a broomstick. This is a common motif in fairy tales and folklore, especially related to Walpurgis Night (Walpurgisnacht).
Compound Words
There are many compound words (Komposita) with "Besen":
- Besenstiel: The handle of the broom.
- Hexenbesen: A witch's broom (often a twig broom).
- Besenkammer: A small room or closet for storing brooms and other cleaning supplies (broom closet).
- Besenrein: A state of cleanliness (e.g., when handing over an apartment) meaning that coarse dirt has been swept away (broom-clean).
Summary: is it der, die or das Besen?
The word "Besen" is always masculine. The correct form is der Besen. The plural is "die Besen". It refers to a tool used for sweeping (a broom).