der
Eimer
🏺 What exactly is an Eimer?
An Eimer is a cylindrical or slightly conical container, open at the top, with a handle (Bügel), typically used for transporting liquids (like Wasser) or bulk materials (like Sand, Kohle or Müll). It's often made of plastic (Kunststoff), metal (Metall), or historically wood (Holz).
There is only one article: der Eimer. It is a masculine noun.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-er → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. almost all -euer nouns are neutral. 3. There are many -er words, we don't list them all.
📊 Grammar in Detail: Der Eimer
The word "Eimer" is a masculine noun and is declined as follows:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | der | Eimer |
| Genitive (Possessive) | des | Eimers |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | dem | Eimer |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | den | Eimer |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Eimer |
| Genitive | der | Eimer |
| Dative | den | Eimern |
| Accusative | die | Eimer |
Example Sentences
- Der Gärtner füllte den Eimer mit Wasser. (The gardener filled the bucket with water.)
- Gib mir bitte mal den blauen Eimer rüber. (Please pass me the blue bucket.)
- Die Kinder sammelten Muscheln in ihren kleinen Eimern am Strand. (The children collected shells in their small buckets at the beach.)
- Der Müll muss raus, der Eimer ist schon wieder voll. (The trash needs to go out, the bin is full again.)
- Früher wurden oft Zinkeimer verwendet, heute sind die meisten Eimer aus Plastik. (Zinc buckets were often used in the past, today most buckets are made of plastic.)
💡 How to use "Eimer"?
The term "Eimer" is an everyday word used in many contexts:
- Haushalt (Household): Putzeimer (mop bucket), Mülleimer (trash bin/garbage can)
- Garten (Garden): As a substitute for a watering can, for collecting weeds or fruit
- Bauwesen (Construction): Transporting sand, cement, water
- Spielzeug (Toy): Sandeimer (sand pail/bucket) for children
A well-known idiom is "es schüttet wie aus Eimern", which literally means "it's pouring as if from buckets" and translates to the English idiom "it's raining cats and dogs".
Colloquially, "Eimer" can also be used slightly derogatorily for an old, bad car ("Dieser alte Eimer springt kaum noch an!" - "This old bucket hardly starts anymore!").
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Eimer"
Article Mnemonic: Imagine DER strongER man carrying the heavy EimER. The -ER ending often indicates masculine nouns in German.
Meaning Mnemonic: An Eimer sounds a bit like "eye-mer". Imagine carrying a bucket carefully so you don't poke your eye with the handle.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Kübel: Often slightly larger or more robust, but very similar; tub, vat.
- Pott (coll.): Colloquial, can also mean 'pot'.
- Behälter: Generic term for 'container', less specific.
- Gefäß: General term for 'vessel', something that can hold content.
Antonyms (opposites):
Direct antonyms are difficult. One might think of concepts like:
- Quelle / Wasserhahn: Source / faucet - where the liquid comes from (instead of being collected).
- Haufen / Berg: Pile / mountain - what might be shoveled into the bucket (loose mass).
Similar-sounding words (Careful!):
- Eifer (der): Means zeal, eagerness. Sounds similar but is unrelated.
😄 A little Eimer Joke
Warum hat der Eimer schlechte Laune?
Weil er immer so schnell voll ist!
(Why is the bucket in a bad mood?
Because it always gets full so quickly!)
📜 Eimer Poem
Der Eimer, rund und meist bereit,
für Wasser, Sand zu jeder Zeit.
Mit Henkel fest, zum Tragen gut,
ob Garten, Bau, er spendet Mut.
Mal voll, mal leer, steht er im Raum,
ein nützlich Ding, man glaubt es kaum.
(The bucket, round and mostly ready,
For water, sand, always steady.
With handle firm, good for carrying,
In garden, building, courage bringing.
Sometimes full, sometimes empty, it stands in the room,
A useful thing, beyond all gloom.)
❓ Riddle Time
Ich hab 'nen Griff, doch keine Hand,
trag Wasser, Erde oder Sand.
Bin nützlich dir an vielen Orten,
mal groß, mal klein, in vielen Sorten.
Was bin ich?
(I have a handle, but no hand,
I carry water, earth, or sand.
I'm useful to you in many places,
Sometimes big, sometimes small, in many cases.
What am I?)
Solution: Der Eimer (The bucket/pail)
✨ More Info
Word Origin: The word "Eimer" comes from the Old High German "eim(b)ar", which originally referred to a vessel with one handle (Tragring). It was also an old unit of measurement (Maßeinheit) for liquids, especially wine (approx. 50-70 liters, varying regionally).
Typical Compounds:
- Putzeimer (mop bucket)
- Mülleimer (trash bin/can)
- Sandeimer (sand pail)
- Feuereimer (fire bucket - formerly used for firefighting)
- Wassereimer (water bucket)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Eimer?
The noun "Eimer" is always masculine. The correct form is: der Eimer (Nominative singular), des Eimers (Genitive singular), dem Eimer (Dative singular), den Eimer (Accusative singular), die Eimer (Nominative/Accusative plural), and den Eimern (Dative plural).