der  Krebs

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/kʁɛps/

🦀 What exactly does "der Krebs" mean?

The German word der Krebs is a masculine noun requiring the article der. It has several meanings:

• Animal 🦀: A crustacean like a crab, often characterized by claws (Scheren) and walking sideways (seitwärts laufen).
• Disease 🩺: A malignant tumorous disease where cells divide uncontrollably and can destroy healthy tissue (also called Karzinom or cancer).
• Zodiac Sign ✨: The fourth sign of the zodiac in astrology (Latin: Cancer), for people born between approximately June 22nd and July 22nd (Sternzeichen Krebs).

🚨 Attention: Context (der Kontext) is crucial to understand the intended meaning. Using the word in a medical sense requires sensitivity (Sensibilität).

Article rules for der, die, and das

📖 Grammar of "der Krebs" in Detail

Der Krebs is a masculine noun. Here are the declension tables (Deklinationstabellen):

Singular

Note: In the dative singular, besides "Krebs", the older form "Krebse" is possible but less common today.

Plural

Example Sentences

1. (Animal) Am Strand sahen wir einen kleinen Krebs, der sich im Sand versteckte.
   (On the beach, we saw a small crab hiding in the sand.)
2. (Disease) Die Diagnose Krebs war ein Schock für die ganze Familie.
   (The cancer diagnosis was a shock for the whole family.)
3. (Zodiac Sign) Mein Bruder ist Sternzeichen Krebs und gilt als sehr emotional.
   (My brother is a Cancer and is considered very emotional.)

🗣️ How is "der Krebs" used?

The usage of der Krebs strongly depends on the context:

• Biology/Everyday Life (Animal): When talking about the animal, the context is usually clear (beach, sea, aquarium - Strand, Meer, Aquarium). Example: "Im Restaurant gab es frischen Krebs." (*The restaurant served fresh crab.*)
• Medicine (Disease): Here, the context is medical or health-related (medizinisch, gesundheitlich). The word is often used with caution and seriousness (Vorsicht, Ernsthaftigkeit). Example: "Die Forschung macht Fortschritte im Kampf gegen den Krebs." (*Research is making progress in the fight against cancer.) Synonyms like Karzinom or Tumor* are also used.
• Astrology (Zodiac Sign): Used in relation to horoscopes (Horoskope) or birth dates (Geburtsdaten). Example: "Sie ist ein typischer Krebs, sehr fürsorglich." (*She is a typical Cancer, very caring.*)

⚠️ Risk of Confusion: Although all meanings share the same article "der", it's important to avoid misunderstandings through context, especially between the animal and the disease.

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Krebs"

Article Mnemonic (der)

Imagine a strong man (der Mann) bravely fighting either a giant crab (der Krebs - animal) or battling cancer (der Krebs - disease). The masculine association helps remember der.

Meaning Mnemonic (Animal, Disease, Zodiac)

Picture a crab (Krebs - animal) on the beach. Its claws (Scheren) can 'pinch' or 'cut', symbolically reminding you of the invasive nature of cancer (Krebs - disease). And this crab looks up at the night sky, where the constellation Cancer (Krebs - zodiac) shines. One image, three meanings!

↔️ Synonyms, Antonyms, and Related Words

Similar-sounding but different words

• die Kresse: cress (a type of herb) - sounds vaguely similar but unrelated.
• der Kreis: circle - a geometric shape.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum gehen Krebse nie zur Schule?

Weil sie immer seitwärts gehen und nie vorankommen! 😉

(Why do crabs never go to school? Because they always walk sideways and never move forward!)

📜 Poem about the Crab

Der Krebs am Strand

Ein kleiner Kerl, der Krebs genannt,
Bewegt sich seitwärts durch den Sand.
Mit Scheren stark, ein fester Griff,
Erforscht er vorsichtig das Riff.

Doch spricht man ernst von diesem Wort,
Denkt man an einen and'ren Ort,
An Krankheit, Sorge, ernste Zeit,
Ein Wort mit großer Zweideutigkeit.

The Crab on the Beach

A little fellow, called der Krebs,
Moves sideways through the sandy steps.
With pincers strong, a solid grip,
He carefully explores the reef's lip.

But speak this word in earnest tone,
One thinks of somewhere else, unknown,
Of illness, worry, serious plight,
A word of dual meaning, dark and bright.

❓ Who or What am I?

Ich laufe seitwärts, nicht geradeaus,
Und trage stets mein festes Haus.
Am Himmel steh' ich als ein Zeichen,
Doch fürchte dich, muss ich dich erreichen
Als Krankheit, die im Körper schleicht.

Wer bin ich, dreifach und doch gleich?

(I walk sideways, not straight ahead,
And always carry my sturdy stead (house).
In the sky, I stand as a sign,
But fear me, should I reach you and align
As illness, creeping in the body's space.

Who am I, threefold, yet the same in this place?)

Solution: Der Krebs (The Crab / Cancer)

💡 More Interesting Facts

Etymology: The word "Krebs" comes from the Old High German "krebiz", which is likely related to the verb "kriechen" (to crawl), referring to the animal's way of moving.

Medical Naming: The Greek physician Hippocrates is said to have named tumors "karkinos" (Greek for crab) because of their outward resemblance to the animal (swollen veins resembling crab legs - Krebsbeine). This was later adopted into Latin as "cancer" and into German as "Krebs".