der
Fetzen
🤔 What exactly is a Fetzen?
Der Fetzen (noun, masculine) refers to a torn, irregular piece of fabric, paper, or other material. It's often something left over or used as a rag for cleaning. Sometimes it's also used derogatorily for clothes.
- A Stofffetzen: A small, torn piece of fabric.
- A Papierfetzen: A scrap or torn piece of paper.
- Colloquially also for Kleidungsstücke (items of clothing, often negative): "Mit diesem alten Fetzen gehst du nicht aus!" (You're not going out in that old rag!)
- Figuratively: Can also stand for fragments or snippets of something else (e.g., Gesprächsfetzen - snippets of conversation).
🚨 Attention: Depending on the context, the word can sound slightly negative or derogatory.
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 Deep Dive: Der Fetzen
The noun der Fetzen is masculine. Here are the declension tables:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Fetzen |
| Genitive | des | Fetzens |
| Dative | dem | Fetzen |
| Accusative | den | Fetzen |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Fetzen |
| Genitive | der | Fetzen |
| Dative | den | Fetzen |
| Accusative | die | Fetzen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Nach dem Sturm hingen nur noch Fetzen der Fahne am Mast.
(After the storm, only shreds/tatters of the flag hung on the mast.) - Er wischte den Tisch mit einem alten Fetzen ab.
(He wiped the table with an old rag.) - Ich habe nur Fetzen des Gesprächs mitbekommen.
(I only caught snippets/fragments of the conversation.) - Sie notierte die Telefonnummer auf einen Papierfetzen.
(She noted the phone number on a scrap of paper.)
💡 How to Use "Fetzen"?
Der Fetzen is mostly used to describe something torn, broken off, or incomplete.
- Context: Often used in connection with materials like fabric (clothing, rags) or paper. Can also be used for parts of conversations, music, or memories (Gesprächsfetzen, Musikfetzen).
- Connotation: Often neutral to slightly negative or derogatory, especially when referring to clothing. A cleaning cloth can be neutrally called a "Fetzen", but calling an item of clothing a "Fetzen" is usually negative.
- Comparison: Similar to Lappen (often for cleaning cloths) or Lumpen (old, torn clothes), but Fetzen emphasizes the torn or fragmentary aspect more. Schnipsel is usually smaller and more related to paper.
- Idiom: "In Fetzen liegen" means that something is completely destroyed or ruined (e.g., clothes, but also plans or nerves). "Meine Nerven liegen in Fetzen." (My nerves are in tatters/shreds.)
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Fetzen"
Article Mnemonic: Think of DER Lappen (the rag) or DER Lumpen (the rag/scoundrel) – often, Fetzen are just that, old rags, which are typically masculine in German.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you forcefully fetch a piece of paper and tear it – what's left is a Fetzen. The sound might remind you of tearing, or fetching a scrap.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
⚠️ Be careful with distinctions: While Fetzen often implies irregularity and being torn, Stück can also be a neatly separated part.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Geist aufgehört, durch die Wand zu gehen?
Er hatte Angst, dass seine besten Laken zu Fetzen werden! 😄
(Why did the ghost stop walking through walls?
He was afraid his best sheets would end up in tatters!)
✒️ Poem about a Fetzen
Ein kleiner Fetzen, bunt und alt,
lag einsam auf dem Asphalt.
Vom Wind getragen, hier und dort,
ein stummer Rest von einem Wort,
vielleicht von einem Brief, voll Leid,
vielleicht von einem bunten Kleid.
Der kleine Fetzen fliegt umher,
erzählt von dem, was war, nicht mehr.
(A little scrap, colorful and old,
lay lonely on the asphalt cold.
Carried by the wind, here and there,
a silent remnant of a word to share,
perhaps from a letter, full of sorrow,
perhaps from a bright dress worn tomorrow.
The little scrap flies all around,
telling of what was, no longer found.)
❓ Little Riddle
Ich bin oft klein und meist zerrissen,
von Stoff, Papier, du wirst es wissen.
Zum Putzen gut, zum Schreiben knapp,
was übrig bleibt, wenn man was schnappt.
Was bin ich?
(I am often small and mostly torn,
Of fabric, paper, as you've sworn.
Good for cleaning, for writing scant,
What's left behind when things are rent.
What am I?)
(Answer: Der Fetzen / A scrap/rag/shred)
💡 Other Interesting Facts
Word Formation: The verb "fetzen" means colloquially "to brawl" or "to fight," but also "to rock" or "to be awesome" (e.g., "Die Musik fetzt!" - "The music rocks!"). There is a connection to the meaning of tearing or ripping.
Figurative Meaning: Besides the idiom "in Fetzen liegen" (to be in tatters), one can also "Gesprächsfetzen aufschnappen" (overhear snippets of conversation) or hear "Musikfetzen" (snippets of music).
Culturally: In some contexts, Fetzen can also be part of works of art (collages) or have symbolic meaning (e.g., in certain rituals).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Fetzen?
The word "Fetzen" is masculine. So you say der Fetzen (singular) and die Fetzen (plural). It means a torn piece of material like fabric or paper, often called a rag or scrap.