der  Kratzer

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈkrat͡sɐ/

🔍 What exactly is a 'Kratzer'?

The German word der Kratzer primarily refers to two things:

• A superficial damage to a surface: This can be a fine line, mark, or scrape on materials like paint (Lack) on a car, wood (Holz) on furniture, glass (Glas), plastic (Kunststoff) like a phone screen, or metal (Metall). Example: Mein neues Auto hat schon einen tiefen Kratzer in der Tür. (My new car already has a deep scratch on the door.)
• A minor skin injury: A superficial wound on the skin, often caused by fingernails (Fingernägel), animal claws (Tierkrallen, e.g., from a cat), or thorns (Dornen). It usually bleeds very little or not at all. Example: Die Katze hat mir einen Kratzer am Arm hinterlassen. (The cat left a scratch on my arm.)

In both cases, it refers to a line-shaped, usually unwanted, indentation or injury.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of 'der Kratzer'

Der Kratzer is a masculine noun. Here are the declension tables:

📝 Example Sentences

• Nominativ: Der Kratzer auf dem Tisch ist neu. (The scratch on the table is new.)
• Genitiv: Die Tiefe des Kratzers war beträchtlich. (The depth of the scratch was considerable.)
• Dativ: Ich habe dem Kratzer wenig Beachtung geschenkt. (I paid little attention to the scratch.)
• Akkusativ: Siehst du den Kratzer auf meinem Handy? (Do you see the scratch on my phone?)
• Plural: Nach dem Umzug hatte der Schrank viele Kratzer. (After the move, the cupboard had many scratches.)

💡 How to use 'Kratzer'?

Der Kratzer is frequently used in everyday life when talking about minor damages or injuries.

• Context Surfaces: People talk about Kratzer on cars, furniture, CDs/DVDs (though less common now), screens, glasses, etc. Often, the depth or visibility is emphasized (ein tiefer Kratzer - a deep scratch, ein feiner Kratzer - a fine scratch, kaum sichtbare Kratzer - barely visible scratches).
• Context Skin Injuries: Typically caused by animals (Katzenkratzer - cat scratch), plants (Dornenkratzer - thorn scratch), or accidentally scratching oneself. It's usually a harmless injury.
• Distinction: A Kratzer is more superficial than a Schnitt (cut, which goes deeper and usually bleeds) or a Riss (tear/crack, often a more complete separation in materials). A Schramme (scrape, graze) is very similar and often used synonymously, but sometimes implies a slightly wider or more irregular superficial damage. An Abschürfung or Schürfwunde (abrasion, graze) is more spread out than a Kratzer.

🧠 Memory Aids for 'der Kratzer'

For the article 'der': Think of a male cat - der Kater - who often makes a Kratzer. 'Kater' is masculine, just like 'Kratzer'. Or imagine a tough guy (der Typ) getting a Kratzer (scratch) in a fight.

For the meaning: The English word "scratch" sounds a bit like the German verb "kratzen". Imagine the sound KRRRATSCH! when something gets scratched – that's der Kratzer.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse 'der Kratzer' (the scratch) with 'der Schaber' (the scraper tool) or the verb 'kratzen' (to scratch).

😂 A Little Joke

Auf Deutsch:
Warum nehmen Musiker immer Schleifpapier mit auf die Bühne?
Damit sie die alten Kratzer aus ihren Platten bekommen!

In English:
Why do musicians always take sandpaper on stage?
So they can get the old scratches out of their records! (Okay, that's a bit old-fashioned 😉)

📜 A Short Poem

Auf Deutsch:
Ein Kratzer fein, kaum zu seh'n,
auf dem Lack, o welch ein Weh'n.
Ein kleiner Strich, durch Unachtsamkeit,
macht die Freude zunicht, weit und breit.
Doch auch die Haut, zart und weich,
trägt mal 'nen Kratzer, ungleich
dem Schmerz, der tief im Herzen sitzt,
wenn Vertrauen wird zerritzt.

In English:
A scratch so fine, barely seen,
on the paint, oh what a mean
little line, through carelessness,
spoils the joy, brings distress.
But also skin, soft and frail,
sometimes bears a scratch's trail,
unlike the pain, deep in the heart,
when trust is torn apart.

🕵️ A Riddle

Auf Deutsch:
Ich bin oft fein und auf Lack zu finden,
manchmal auch auf Haut von Sünden.
Die Katze schenkt mich dir im Spiel,
auf dem Handy bin ich oft zu viel.

Was bin ich?

In English:
I'm often fine and found on paint,
sometimes on skin from a complaint.
A cat might give me in its play,
on your phone, I often stay.

What am I?

Solution: der Kratzer (the scratch)

ℹ️ Additional Information

Word Formation (Wortbildung):

The noun der Kratzer is directly derived from the verb kratzen (to scratch). The verb describes the action that leads to the scratch.

kratzen (verb) + -er (suffix for forming nouns, often masculine) -> der Kratzer (noun)

Interestingly, colloquially (umgangssprachlich), "Kratzer" can also refer to being slightly tipsy or having a hangover (einen Kater haben), but this usage is less common and varies regionally.