der  Hahn

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/haːn/

🐓💧 What does “der Hahn” mean?

The German word der Hahn primarily has two meanings:

1. The male chicken (Rooster 🐓): The bird that crows and lives on the farm.

   Example: Der Hahn weckt morgens die ganze Nachbarschaft. (The rooster wakes up the whole neighbourhood in the morning.)

2. A stopcock or valve (Tap/Faucet 💧): A technical device used to regulate the flow of liquids (e.g., water) or gases. Often used synonymously with „Wasserhahn“ (water tap) or „Zapfhahn“ (dispensing tap).

   Example: Dreh bitte den Hahn zu, das Wasser läuft. (Please turn off the tap, the water is running.)

⚠️ Although both meanings use the same word and the same article („der“), the context is crucial to understand the correct meaning.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Hahn

The noun „Hahn“ is masculine. Here are the declension tables:

Singular

Plural

📝 Example Sentences

• Meaning 1 (Animal): Der Hahn stolziert über den Hof. (The rooster struts across the yard.)
• Meaning 1 (Animal): Das Krähen des Hahnes ist laut. (The crowing of the rooster is loud.)
• Meaning 1 (Animal): Die Henne folgt dem Hahn. (The hen follows the rooster.)
• Meaning 1 (Animal): Siehst du den Hahn auf dem Dach? (Do you see the rooster on the roof?)
• Meaning 1 (Animal): Die Hähne kämpfen um die Hennen. (The roosters fight over the hens.)
• Meaning 2 (Valve): Der Griff des Hahns ist locker. (The handle of the tap is loose.)
• Meaning 2 (Valve): Bitte dreh an dem Hahn! (Please turn the tap!)
• Meaning 2 (Valve): Ich muss den Hahn reparieren lassen. (I need to get the tap repaired.)
• Meaning 2 (Valve): In der Brauerei gibt es viele Hähne. (There are many taps in the brewery.)

🗣️ How to use „der Hahn“?

Usage clearly depends on the context:

• Animal (Rooster): Mostly used in contexts related to farms, agriculture, chickens, or the morning crow. Example: „Auf dem Bauernhof krähte der Hahn.“ (The rooster crowed on the farm.)
• Valve (Tap/Faucet): Found in technical descriptions, households (kitchen, bathroom), or industry (pipelines, breweries). Examples: „Dreh den Wasserhahn auf.“ (Turn on the water tap.), „Der Gashahn muss überprüft werden.“ (The gas tap must be checked.)

Idioms (Redewendungen):

• „Der Hahn im Korb sein“: (Literally: to be the rooster in the basket) Means to be the only man in a group of women, often receiving the most attention. Example: „Auf der Party war er der Hahn im Korb.“ (He was the cock of the walk / the only man at the party.)
• „Den Hahn zudrehen“: (Literally: to turn off the tap) Figuratively means to cut off someone's financial or material support. Example: „Nach dem Streit haben ihm seine Eltern den Geldhahn zugedreht.“ (After the argument, his parents cut him off financially.)
• „Da kräht kein Hahn nach“: (Literally: no rooster crows about it) Means nobody cares, it's unimportant. Example: „Ob du kommst oder nicht, danach kräht kein Hahn.“ (Nobody gives a hoot whether you come or not.)

Distinction from other words:

• Henne (f): The female chicken (hen).
• Gockel (m): Synonym for Hahn (animal), often regional or colloquial.
• Wasserhahn (m): Specifically the tap for water.
• Zapfhahn (m): Specifically the tap for dispensing drinks (e.g., beer).

🧠 Mnemonics for „der Hahn“

Article Mnemonic (der): Imagine a proud rooster (Hahn), who acts like the boss (masculine) on the farm. Masculine -> der Hahn. Or think of a water tap (Wasserhahn): The plumber (usually a man) fixes it. Masculine -> der Hahn.

Meaning Mnemonic: A Hahn either makes a loud noise (“Kikeriki!” / “Cock-a-doodle-doo!” - the animal) or controls water flow (the tap/valve). Think: A Hahn has a loud CROW or controls the FLOW.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms for Hahn

Beware of confusion: The word sounds similar to „Ha(a)rn“, which has a completely different meaning (urine).

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Hahn einen Kamm?

Weil er keine Bürste benutzen kann!

(Why does the rooster have a comb? Because he can't use a brush!)

📜 Poem about the Hahn

Früh am Morgen, welch ein Dröhnen,
der Hahn beginnt laut zu tönen.
„Kikeriki!“, ruft er vom Mist,
\damit du nicht den Tag vergisst.

Doch auch im Haus, ganz ohne Schrei,
\gibt's einen Hahn, stets mit dabei.
Er spendet Wasser, klar und kühl,
\ganz ohne Lärm und mit Gefühl.

(Early morning, what a sound,
the rooster starts to crow profound.
"Cock-a-doodle!" from the manure heap,
so you don't oversleep.

But in the house, without a cry,
there is a tap, always nearby.
It gives clear water, cool and nice,
quietly, with precise device.)

🤔 Little Riddle

Ich habe einen Kamm, doch kämm' mich nie.
Ich wecke dich morgens, mal spät, mal früh.
Ich kann auch tropfen, ohne nass zu sein,
und wohne im Bad oder im Hühnerstall – ganz fein.

Wer bin ich?

(I have a comb, but never comb my hair.
I wake you in the morning, with a sound to share.
I can also drip, without being wet,
and live in the bathroom or the chicken coop, you bet.

What am I?) Solution: Der Hahn (The rooster / The tap)

💡 More about der Hahn

Compound Words (Wortzusammensetzungen):

• Wasserhahn: Water tap/faucet.
• Gashahn: Gas tap/valve.
• Zapfhahn: Dispensing tap (for drinks like beer).
• Wetterhahn: Weathercock/weathervane (often shaped like a rooster).
• Hahnenkampf: Cockfight.
• Hahnenschrei: Rooster's crow.

Trivia:

• In many cultures, the rooster (Hahn) is a symbol of vigilance, pride, or masculinity.
• In France, the Gallic rooster („le coq gaulois“) is an unofficial national symbol.