der  Herd

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/heːɐ̯t/

🍳 What exactly is a 'Herd'?

The German word der Herd (noun, masculine) has several meanings:

• Stove / Cooker: The most common meaning is a kitchen appliance for cooking and frying, often combining cooktops (Kochfelder) on top and an oven (Backofen) below. Examples: Elektroherd (electric stove), Gasherd (gas stove), Induktionsherd (induction stove).
• Hearth / Fireplace: An older meaning refers to an open fireplace in a house, the center of domestic life. Example: Sie versammelten sich um den warmen Herd. (They gathered around the warm hearth.)
• Center / Source (figurative): Less commonly, it's used figuratively for the origin or center of something. Example: der Herd der Krankheit (the source/focus of the illness), der Herd des Aufstands (the center of the uprising).

🚨 Attention: Although a modern Herd often includes an oven, der Herd primarily refers to the cooktop or the entire appliance, while der Ofen or der Backofen specifically means the part for baking.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar: 'Der Herd' in Detail

Der Herd is a masculine noun. Here is its declension:

Notes:

• In the Genitive Singular, both forms (Herdes and Herds) are possible, with Herdes being slightly more common.
• In the Dative Singular, Herd is the more frequent form; Herde is rarer and sounds a bit dated.
• The plural is always die Herde. ⚠️ Don't confuse it with die Herde (plural of die Herde = herd of animals)! Context makes the difference clear.

Example Sentences

1. Der neue Herd wird morgen geliefert.
   (The new stove will be delivered tomorrow.)
2. Die Oberfläche des Herdes muss gereinigt werden.
   (The surface of the stove needs to be cleaned.)
3. Stell den Topf bitte auf den Herd!
   (Please put the pot on the stove!)
4. In dieser Großküche gibt es mehrere Herde.
   (In this commercial kitchen, there are several stoves.)
5. Früher saß die Familie am offenen Herd.
   (In the past, the family sat by the open hearth.)

🤔 How to Use 'der Herd'?

Typical Contexts:

• Cooking & Kitchen: The most common use relates to cooking. You steht am Herd (stand at the stove), schaltet den Herd ein/aus (turn the stove on/off), stellt Töpfe auf den Herd (put pots on the stove).
• Household & Furnishings: When buying or describing a kitchen, der Herd is a central element.
• Historical/Romantic: The meaning 'hearth' is more often used in historical or literary contexts (Heim und Herd - 'home and hearth').
• Figurative: The meaning 'center/source' is more formal or technical (medicine, politics).

Distinction from Ofen/Backofen:

In everyday language, the distinction isn't always strict if the appliance combines both. If someone says "Ich stelle das Essen auf den Herd," they usually mean the cooktop. If they say "Ich schiebe den Kuchen in den Ofen," they mean the baking compartment. Der Herd can refer to the whole unit, but when specifically talking about baking, der Ofen or der Backofen is more precise.

Idioms:

• Eigen(er) Herd ist Goldes wert: (Proverb: 'One's own hearth/home is worth gold.' Emphasizes the value of one's own home.)
• jemanden vom Herd wegholen: (outdated, often sexist: 'to take someone away from the stove' - meaning to marry a woman or get her out of the household.)

💡 How to Remember 'der Herd'

Article Mnemonic: Think of a male chef: HE is master of DER Herd. (HE sounds a bit like the 'Her-' in Herd, and reminds you it's masculine 'der').

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you've HEARD the sizzling sound from the hot Herd (stove). Or, your HEART (sounds like Herd) feels warm by the Herd (hearth).

🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms & Similar Words for Herd

⚠️ Similar Words (Potential Confusion):

• die Herde: A herd of animals (e.g., eine Schafherde - a flock of sheep). Same plural form as 'der Herd', but different singular article and meaning!
• hart: Adjective (hard). Sounds similar.
• Herz: The heart (organ). Sounds similar.

😄 A Little Joke

Deutsch: Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Warum haben Sie den Goldfisch Ihrer Frau auf dem Herd gebraten?" Antwortet der Angeklagte: "Sie hat gesagt, sie will etwas Warmes zu essen!"

English: The judge asks the defendant: "Why did you fry your wife's goldfish on the stove?" The defendant replies: "She said she wanted something warm to eat!"

📜 A Poem about the 'Herd'

Deutsch:
Der Herd, der treue Küchenfreund,
Wo Wärme auf Genuss sich reimt.
Er brutzelt, kocht und bäckt geschwind,
Ein Segen für das Hausgesind'.
Mal Feuerstelle, warm und alt,
Mal Zentrum, das den Streit entfacht.
Der Herd, er kann so manches sein,
Doch meistens lädt zum Essen ein.

English Translation:
The stove, the loyal kitchen friend,
Where warmth and pleasure blend.
It sizzles, cooks, and bakes so fast,
A blessing for the household cast.
Sometimes a hearth, warm and old,
Sometimes a source of conflicts told.
The stove, it can be many things,
But mostly invites to meals it brings.

🧩 Riddle Time

Deutsch:
Ich habe Platten, heiß und blank,
Steh meistens an der Küchenwand.
Ich koche Suppe, brate Fleisch,
Mach Essen warm – und das sogleich!
Manchmal hab ich auch 'nen Ofen drin,
Bin in der Küche Königin (oder König, mit 'der').

Was bin ich?
(Lösung: der Herd)

English Translation:
I have plates, hot and bright,
Usually stand against the kitchen wall's light.
I cook soup, fry meat with ease,
Make food warm – right now, if you please!
Sometimes I have an oven inside, too,
In the kitchen, I'm the queen (or king, with 'der').

What am I?
(Answer: der Herd / the stove)

✨ More about 'der Herd'

Word Compounds (Wortzusammensetzungen):

• Elektroherd: Electric stove.
• Gasherd: Gas stove.
• Induktionsherd: Induction stove.
• Holzherd: Wood-burning stove (often older or in rustic kitchens).
• Herdplatte: A single hotplate/cooktop element.
• Herdprämie: A (controversial) German state benefit for parents caring for children at home (referencing the traditional image of women 'at the stove').

Etymology: The word "Herd" comes from the Old High German "herd," which originally meant "earth floor" or "fireplace." It is related to the English word "hearth." The fireplace was the central place in the house around which the family (the "Herde" in the sense of a group or flock) gathered.