der  Kopf

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/kɔpf/

🧠 What does "der Kopf" mean?

The German word der Kopf (plural: die Köpfe) is a masculine noun with several meanings:

• Body part: The most common meaning is the head, the uppermost part of the human or animal body containing the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Example: Mein Kopf tut weh. (My head hurts.)
• Mind & Intellect: It can also refer to the mind, the ability to think, or an intelligent person. Example: Sie hat einen klaren Kopf für Zahlen. (She has a clear head/mind for numbers.) Er ist ein heller Kopf. (He is a bright mind / clever person.)
• Leader or Top: "Kopf" can also mean the leader of a group or the top part of something. Example: Er ist der Kopf der Abteilung. (He is the head of the department.) Der Kopf einer Nadel. (The head of a pin.)
• Round Objects: Sometimes it refers to round, head-like things. Example: ein Kopf Salat (a head of lettuce).

⚠️ Even with its different meanings, the article is always der.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📝 Grammar of "der Kopf" in Detail

"Der Kopf" is a strong masculine noun. This means its ending changes in the genitive singular, and it forms its plural with an umlaut (ö) and often an '-e' ending. Here are the declension tables:

Singular

Plural

Example Sentences

1. Nominative: Der Kopf ist rund. (The head is round.)
2. Genitive: Die Form des Kopfes ist interessant. (The shape of the head is interesting.)
3. Dative: Ich gebe dem Kopf des Teams die Informationen. (I give the information to the head of the team.)
4. Accusative: Ich sehe den Kopf. (I see the head.)
5. Plural Nominative: Viele Köpfe denken besser als einer. (Many heads think better than one.)

🗣️ How to use "Kopf"?

"Der Kopf" is a very common word used in many idioms and contexts:

• Literal meaning: Simply for the body part. "Pass auf deinen Kopf auf!" (Watch your head!)
• Figurative meaning (Mind): When talking about thinking, ideas, or mental state. "Sich den Kopf zerbrechen" (to rack one's brains), "einen kühlen Kopf bewahren" (to keep a cool head).
• Figurative meaning (Person/Leadership): For people in leading positions. "Der Kopf der Verschwörung wurde gefasst." (The head/leader of the conspiracy was caught.) Also used for 'per person': "Der Eintritt kostet 10 Euro pro Kopf." (Admission costs 10 euros per head/person.)
• Figurative meaning (Top part): For the upper part of objects. "Der Kopf einer Schraube." (The head of a screw.)

Typical Collocations (words often used together):

• Kopf + Verb: Kopf schütteln (shake one's head), Kopf nicken (nod), Kopf zerbrechen (rack one's brains), Kopf verlieren (lose one's head)
• Adjective + Kopf: klarer Kopf (clear head), heller Kopf (bright mind), leerer Kopf (empty head), runder Kopf (round head)
• Preposition + Kopf: auf dem Kopf (on the head), im Kopf (in the head/mind), über den Kopf (over the head), von Kopf bis Fuß (from head to toe)

Comparison: While "Kopf" is the general term, "Schädel" specifically refers to the skull, and "Gehirn" or "Hirn" refers to the brain inside the head.

💡 Mnemonics for "der Kopf"

Article Mnemonic (der)

Think of a leaDER (a man, der Mann) using his Kopf (head/mind). Masculine articles often go with strong, active concepts – like thinking or leading with your Kopf. Both leaDER and DER Kopf end in '-er'.

Meaning Mnemonic (Head, Mind, Top)

Imagine der Captain (the Kopf/head of the crew) standing at the Kopf (top/head) of the ship, using his clever Kopf (mind) to navigate. His main body part is his Kopf (head).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar but misleading words:

• Knopf (der): Looks and sounds slightly similar, but means 'button'. Der Knopf an der Jacke. (The button on the jacket.) 🚨 Don't confuse Kopf (head) with Knopf (button)!

😂 A Little Joke

DE: Warum tragen Skelette keinen Hut?
Weil sie keinen Kopf mehr haben, auf den sie ihn setzen könnten! 😉

EN: Why don't skeletons wear hats?
Because they no longer have a head to put it on! 😉

📜 Poem about the Head

DE:
Der Kopf, der denkt, der Kopf, der lenkt,
Mal voller Sorgen, mal verschenkt
An Träume leicht, an Wissen schwer,
Mal ist er voll, mal ist er leer.Er nickt mal ja, er schüttelt nein,
Kann klarer Quell, kann Wirrwarr sein.
Ob Denkerstirn, ob Lockenpracht,
Der Kopf ist's, der uns einzig macht.

EN:
The head that thinks, the head that guides,
Sometimes with worries, sometimes it glides
Into light dreams, or knowledge deep,
Sometimes it's full, secrets to keep,
Sometimes it's empty, thoughts unclear.

It nods a yes, it shakes a no,
Can be a clear spring, or chaos sow.
Whether thinking brow, or curly hair so bright,
The head it is, that gives us our own light.

❓ Riddle Time

DE:
Ich sitze ganz oben, doch hab keine Krone.
Ich denke und träume, doch bin kein Smartphone.
Ich kann nicken und schütteln, ganz ohne Hand.
Manchmal bin ich leer, manchmal voller Verstand.

Was bin ich? ... Der Kopf

EN:
I sit at the very top, but have no crown.
I think and I dream, but I'm not a smartphone in town.
I can nod and can shake, completely without a hand.
Sometimes I am empty, sometimes full of understanding grand.

What am I?
... The Head (Der Kopf)

➕ Other Information

Word Compounds (Komposita): "Kopf" is very productive in German and forms many compound words:

• Kopfschmerzen (Headache)
• Kopfhörer (Headphones)
• Kopfkissen (Pillow)
• Kopfstand (Headstand)
• Kopfgeld (Bounty, literally 'head money')
• Dickkopf (Stubborn person, literally 'thick head')
• Wirrkopf (Confused person, literally 'jumbled head')

Idioms (Selection):

• Den Kopf in den Sand stecken: (To stick one's head in the sand) - To ignore problems.
• Jemandem den Kopf waschen: (To wash someone's head) - To give someone a telling-off.
• Kopf und Kragen riskieren: (To risk head and collar) - To risk life and limb, to take a big risk.
• Hals über Kopf: (Neck over head) - Head over heels, very quickly, rashly.
• Nicht wissen, wo einem der Kopf steht: (Not know where one's head stands) - To be extremely stressed or busy.