der
Penis
🧬 What does "der Penis" mean?
The word der Penis (plural: die Penisse) refers to the male external reproductive organ in humans and many animal species. It serves both for reproduction (transmission of sperm) and for the excretion of urine.
It is an anatomical or medical term derived from Latin.
🧐 Grammar of "der Penis" in Detail
The noun "Penis" is masculine (maskulin). Here are the declension tables:
| Case (Kasus) | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (1st case) | der | Penis |
| Genitive (2nd case) | des | Penis |
| Dative (3rd case) | dem | Penis |
| Accusative (4th case) | den | Penis |
| Case (Kasus) | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (1st case) | die | Penisse |
| Genitive (2nd case) | der | Penisse |
| Dative (3rd case) | den | Penissen |
| Accusative (4th case) | die | Penisse |
📝 Example Sentences
- Der Arzt untersuchte den Penis des Patienten. (The doctor examined the patient's penis.)
- Die Entwicklung des Penis beginnt bereits im Embryonalstadium. (The development of the penis begins already in the embryonic stage.)
- Manche Tiere haben sehr ungewöhnlich geformte Penisse. (Some animals have very unusually shaped penises.)
🗣️ Everyday Usage Notes
"Der Penis" is the correct anatomical term. However, in everyday language (Alltagssprache), it is often perceived as very direct or clinical. Therefore, euphemisms (Umschreibungen) or colloquial terms (umgangssprachliche Begriffe) are frequently used, whose formality and appropriateness strongly depend on the context.
- Medical/Biological Context: Here, "Penis" is the standard term.
- Everyday Language: Synonyms like "Glied" or (sometimes vulgar) terms like "Schwanz" are often used. Caution is advised, as some terms can be considered offensive (anstößig).
- Sex Education: In sex education (Sexualaufklärung), the term "Penis" is used to provide clarity.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article "der": Think of der Mann (the man). Logically, the male reproductive organ is also masculine in German: der Penis. It's a defining part *of the* man.
Meaning: The word sounds very similar to its Latin origin "penis", which meant "tail". Imagine a small tail to help remember the organ it refers to.
🔄 Synonyms & Counterparts
Synonyms (similar meaning):
Counterparts (female equivalent):
- Vagina: The internal female reproductive organ.
- Vulva: The external female reproductive organs.
Note: There are no direct antonyms in the sense of opposites, but the female counterparts are Vagina and Vulva.
😄 A Little Joke
DE: Warum hat der Penis keinen Lieblingsfilm? Weil er immer nur das Ende sieht!
EN: Why doesn't the penis have a favorite movie? Because it only ever sees the ending!
✒️ Little Poem
DE:
Der Penis, klar und rein,
ist Teil vom Mann, mal groß, mal klein.
Anatomisch korrekt,
selten im Dialekt.
Ein Wort aus Bio, fein.
EN:
Der Penis, clear and pure,
is part of the man, sometimes big, sometimes small, for sure.
Anatomically correct,
rarely in dialect.
A word from biology, fine.
❓ Little Riddle
DE:
Ich gehöre nur dem Mann,
bin wichtig dann und wann.
Bin mal schlaff und mal ganz steif,
für Nachwuchs bin ich reif.
Was bin ich?
(Lösung: der Penis)
EN:
I belong only to the man,
I'm important now and then.
Sometimes I'm flaccid, sometimes quite stiff,
For offspring, I'm ready, as if.
What am I?
(Solution: der Penis)
💡 Other Information
The word "Penis" comes directly from Latin, where pēnis originally meant "tail" or "Schwanz". Only later was the meaning narrowed down to the male reproductive organ.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Penis?
The German word for the male reproductive organ is masculine: der Penis. The plural is die Penisse. It is considered a medical or anatomical term.