der  Korb

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/kɔʁp/

🧺 What exactly is a 'Korb'?

The German word der Korb has several meanings:

• Container (Basket): The most common meaning is a woven container, often made of willow, rattan, or plastic, used for carrying or storing things (e.g., Einkaufskorb - shopping basket, Papierkorb - wastepaper basket, Wäschekorb - laundry basket).
• Basketball: In sports, der Korb refers to the goal in basketball, i.e., the hoop with the net. One speaks of einen Korb werfen (to score a basket).
• Rejection (colloquial): Figuratively, einen Korb bekommen (to get rejected) or jemandem einen Korb geben (to reject someone) means to receive or give a refusal, usually in a romantic context. 💔

🚨 Important: The article is always der for Korb, regardless of the meaning.

🧐 Grammar of 'der Korb' in Detail

Korb is a masculine noun. Here is its declension:

Example Sentences

1. Der Korb steht neben der Tür.
   (The basket is next to the door.)
2. Sie trägt einen Korb voller Äpfel.
   (She carries a basket full of apples.)
3. Der Basketballspieler warf den Ball zielsicher in den Korb.
   (The basketball player threw the ball accurately into the hoop.)
4. Er hat ihr seine Liebe gestanden, aber leider einen Korb bekommen.
   (He confessed his love to her, but unfortunately got rejected.)
5. Sie musste ihm einen Korb geben, weil sie schon vergeben war.
   (She had to reject him because she was already taken.)

🛒 How to use 'der Korb'?

The usage of Korb strongly depends on the context:

• Everyday life (Container): People talk about the Einkaufskorb (shopping basket), Papierkorb (wastepaper basket), Wäschekorb (laundry basket), Picknickkorb (picnic basket), or Strandkorb (hooded beach chair, literally 'beach basket'). This always refers to the physical object.
• Sports (Basketball): You say einen Korb werfen (to score a basket), der Ball ging durch den Korb (the ball went through the hoop), or drei Körbe in Folge erzielen (to score three baskets in a row).
• Interpersonal (Rejection): The idioms jemandem einen Korb geben (to turn someone down) and einen Korb bekommen (to be turned down/rejected) are very common, especially regarding romantic advances. They sound somewhat colloquial.

⚠️ Don't confuse Korb with Kürbis (pumpkin), even though both can sometimes be round and associated with harvest.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Korb'

1. Article Mnemonic: Think of a strong man (der Mann - masculine) carrying a heavy Korb. Or think of der basketball player who shoots the Korb (hoop). Nouns ending in -er are often masculine (der).

2. Meaning Mnemonic: A Korb can be three things: what you carry (basket), where you throw (hoop), or what you get (rejection - imagine someone throwing an empty basket at your feet instead of a rose).

↔️ Similar and Opposite Words

Similar Words

• Korbflechterei: Basket weaving (the craft).
• Korbweide: Osier, the type of willow often used for weaving baskets.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Skelette nie einen Korb mit zum Einkaufen?

Weil sie keinen Körper haben, um ihn zu tragen!

(Why do skeletons never take a basket shopping? Because they have no body to carry it! - Play on words: Korb (basket) sounds similar to Körper (body))

✒️ Poem about the 'Korb'

Ein Korb, geflochten, stark und alt,
trägt Äpfel rot im grünen Wald.
Ein andrer Korb hängt hoch und klar,
für Punkte da, Jahr für Jahr.
Der dritte Korb, ein leises Wort,
trägt Herzen fort an andren Ort.
Ob voll, ob leer, ob hoch, ob tief,
der Korb hält, was das Leben rief.

---
A basket, woven, strong and old,
Carries red apples in forests green and bold.
Another hoop hangs high and clear,
For points scored there, year after year.
The third, a rejection, a soft-spoken word,
Carries hearts away, unheard.
Whether full or empty, high or low,
The Korb holds what life makes grow.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich habe einen Henkel, doch bin keine Tür.
Man wirft Bälle in mich, nicht nur zum Pläsier.
Man kann mich bekommen, doch will's oft keiner hier.

Was bin ich?

---
I have a handle, but I'm not a door.
Balls are thrown into me, not just for fun galore.
You can receive me, but often no one wants me here for sure.

What am I?

Solution: Der Korb (the basket / hoop / rejection)

💡 Other Interesting Info

• Word Origin: The word Korb comes from Old High German "korb", which probably goes back to the Latin "corbis" (wicker basket).
• Compound Words: German loves compound words! Examples with Korb are numerous:
  • Papierkorb (paper basket)
  • Einkaufskorb (shopping basket)
  • Wäschekorb (laundry basket)
  • Picknickkorb (picnic basket)
  • Strandkorb (hooded beach chair)
  • Präsentkorb (gift basket/hamper)
  • Obstkorb (fruit basket)
  • Bienenkorb (beehive - traditionally basket-shaped)
• Idiom Note: The German idiom "Etwas auf dem Kerbholz haben" (to have a bad record/something on one's tally stick) has nothing to do with Korb, despite the similar sound. Kerbholz was a tally stick.