der  Fisch

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɪʃ/

🐟 What exactly is a "Fisch"?

The German word der Fisch primarily refers to two things:

• An animal: A vertebrate living in water with gills, usually moving with fins. (Example: Ein bunter Fisch schwimmt im Aquarium. - A colourful fish swims in the aquarium.)
• A food item: The meat of fish used as food. (Example: Zum Abendessen gibt es gebratenen Fisch. - We're having fried fish for dinner.)

Occasionally, "Fisch" is used colloquially or in fixed expressions for people, often not very flatteringly (e.g., kalter Fisch - cold fish for an emotionless person) or in the context of the star sign (Er ist Sternzeichen Fische - His star sign is Pisces).

⚠️ Note: The star sign is called "die Fische" (plural), but a person born under this sign might be referred to as "ein Fische-Geborener" or colloquially sometimes "ein Fisch".

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "der Fisch" in Detail

"Fisch" is a masculine noun, hence it uses the article der.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

Example Sentences

• Der Fisch schwimmt im Teich. (The fish swims in the pond. - Nominative Singular)
• Die Schuppen des Fisches glänzen. (The fish's scales shine. - Genitive Singular)
• Ich gebe dem Fisch Futter. (I give food to the fish. - Dative Singular)
• Er angelt einen Fisch. (He is fishing for a fish. / He catches a fish. - Accusative Singular)
• Die Fische sind gesund. (The fish are healthy. - Nominative Plural)
• Das Futter der Fische ist leer. (The fishes' food is empty. - Genitive Plural)
• Wir helfen den Fischen beim Laichen. (We help the fish spawn. - Dative Plural)
• Siehst du die Fische dort drüben? (Do you see the fish over there? - Accusative Plural)

💡 How to Use "Fisch"?

"Fisch" is a very common word. Here are some typical contexts:

Idioms (Redewendungen)

• Stumm wie ein Fisch: (Mute as a fish) - To be very silent.
• Sich wie ein Fisch im Wasser fühlen: (To feel like a fish in water) - To feel very comfortable, in one's element.
• Weder Fisch noch Fleisch: (Neither fish nor flesh) - Something undecided, not clearly defined.
• Ein dicker Fisch: (A big fish) - An important catch (also figuratively, e.g., an important client or criminal).

Compared to more specific terms like Forelle (trout), Lachs (salmon), or Hering (herring), Fisch is the general term.

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Fisch"

For the article "der"

Imagine: DER mighty FISHerman catches a fish. The fisherman is male (masculine), so it's "der". Or think: The fiSH has a strong wiSH - *der* Wish (almost sounds like Fisch).

For the meaning

A Fisch sounds a bit like 'fish' in English, and both swim in water and can end up on your 'dish'.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar but Misleading Words

• Fischstäbchen (das): (Fish stick/finger) - Although made of fish, the word is neuter ("das Stäbchen" - the little stick).
• Fische (die, Plural): The star sign (Pisces).

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt ein Fisch den anderen: "Wogegen bist du eben geschwommen?"
Sagt der andere Fisch: "Gegen eine Wand!"
Fragt der erste Fisch: "Gegen welche Wand denn?"
Sagt der andere: "Gegen die Klagemauer!"

English Translation: One fish asks another: "What did you just swim into?"
The other fish says: "A wall!"
The first fish asks: "Which wall?"
The other says: "The Wailing Wall!"

🎶 Poem about a Fish

German:
Ein kleiner Fisch, so bunt und klar,
Schwimmt durch das Wasser, wunderbar.
Mal schnell, mal langsam, hin und her,
Das Leben unter Wasser liebt er sehr.
Der Fisch, er kennt sein nasses Reich,
Im tiefen See, im kühlen Teich.

English Translation:
A little fish, so bright and clear,
Swims through the water, wonderfully.
Sometimes fast, sometimes slow, to and fro,
He loves life under water so.
The fish, he knows his watery realm,
In the deep lake, in the cool pond.

❓ Little Riddle

German:
Ich habe Schuppen, doch kein Kleid,
Ich schwimme gern, durch Raum und Zeit (des Wassers).
Ich atme ohne Lungenflügel,
Mal land' ich auf dem Bratpfannenhügel.

Wer bin ich?

English Translation:
I have scales, but not a dress,
I like to swim, through watery space and time, no less.
I breathe without wings of lung,
Sometimes on the frying pan hill I'm flung.

Who am I?

(Solution: Der Fisch - The fish)

✨ Other Interesting Facts

• Word Composition: "Fisch" can be part of many compound nouns, e.g., Fischmarkt (fish market), Fischgericht (fish dish), Fischgräte (fish bone), Fischzug (catch of fish, haul), Fischadler (osprey), Fischstäbchen (fish stick).
• Biology: There are thousands of different fish species worldwide, from tiny gobies to the huge whale shark (which is a fish despite its name).
• Culture: The fish is an important symbol in many cultures and religions (e.g., the Ichthys symbol in Christianity).
• Astrology: The star sign "Fische" (Pisces) is the twelfth sign of the zodiac.