der  Quatsch

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/kvatʃ/

🤔 What does "der Quatsch" mean?

Der Quatsch is a colloquial German term primarily meaning nonsense, rubbish, balderdash, silly talk, or something foolish. It's often used to dismiss a statement, idea, or action as nonsensical or silly.

• It describes something lacking sense or reason.
• It can also be used affectionately for minor silliness (e.g., with children).
• 🚨 It's informal and should generally be avoided in formal contexts.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "der Quatsch" in Detail

"Quatsch" is a masculine noun and takes the article der. It's mostly used in the singular because it often represents an uncountable concept (the idea of nonsense). A plural form ("die Quatsche") is very uncommon and would refer to individual nonsensical statements or actions, but it's rarely encountered.

Declension Singular

Example Sentences

1. "Erzähl doch nicht so einen Quatsch!"
   (Don't talk such nonsense!) - Often used in the accusative case.
2. "Das ist doch alles Quatsch."
   (That's all nonsense.) - Nominative case.
3. "Wegen dieses Quatsches haben wir uns gestritten."
   (We argued because of this nonsense.) - Genitive case.
4. "Mit diesem Quatsch will ich nichts zu tun haben."
   (I want nothing to do with this nonsense.) - Dative case.

💬 When and how to use "Quatsch"?

"Quatsch" is a versatile word in colloquial German:

• As a rebuttal: "Ach, Quatsch! Das stimmt doch gar nicht." (Oh, nonsense! That's not true at all.) – To reject a statement as false or nonsensical.
• As a description: "Was du da sagst, ist völliger Quatsch." (What you're saying is complete rubbish.) – To evaluate an idea or statement.
• For silliness: "Die Kinder machen nur Quatsch im Garten." (The children are just fooling around / being silly in the garden.) – Refers to playful, perhaps pointless, but often harmless activities.
• As an interjection: "Quatsch!" (Nonsense! / Rubbish!) – As a brief exclamation of disagreement or surprise.

Distinction from similar words:

• Unsinn: Very similar, perhaps slightly more neutral than Quatsch.
• Blödsinn: Often a bit stronger or more negatively judgmental than Quatsch.

⚠️ Avoid using "Quatsch" in formal writing or speeches unless quoting someone or intentionally aiming for a colloquial tone.

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Quatsch"

1. For the article 'der':

   Imagine a man (der Mann) who only talks nonsense – he's talking Quatsch. Der Mann macht der Quatsch. Link the masculine 'der' to the stereotypical image of someone 'mansplaining' nonsense (just a mnemonic, not a generalization!).

2. For the meaning 'nonsense':

   The word sounds a bit like 'squash'. Imagine someone trying to present a squashed, messy pile of something as a serious argument – it's just Quatsch! Or, it sounds like a duck's 'quack' - imagine ducks 'quacking' nonsensically.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms for Quatsch

⚠️ Similar Sounding Words:

• quatschen: The verb meaning 'to chat', 'to gossip', or 'to talk nonsense'. Der Quatsch is derived from quatschen.

😄 A Little Quatsch to Laugh About

Fragt der Lehrer: "Was ist Unsinn?" Meldet sich Fritzchen: "Wenn eine Fliege auf einen Glatzkopf fliegt und ausrutscht!" Lehrer: "Quatsch! Das ist Pech!" Fritzchen: "Nein, Herr Lehrer, Quatsch ist, wenn sie nochmal drauf fliegt!"

Translation:
The teacher asks: "What is nonsense?"
Little Fritz says: "When a fly lands on a bald head and slips!"
Teacher: "Nonsense! That's bad luck!"
Fritz: "No, teacher, nonsense is when it lands on it again!"

✍️ Poem about Quatsch

Manchmal redet man viel Zeug,
mal laut, mal leis, mal ungestreugt.
Ist's ohne Sinn und ohne Halt,
nennt man es kurz und bündig "Quatsch".

Ein Kind lacht laut, macht Papperlapapp,
der Ernst des Lebens scheint ganz knapp.
Doch dieser Unsinn, froh und frisch,
ist oft kein Quatsch, nur lebensfrisch.

Translation:
Sometimes one talks a lot of stuff,
Sometimes loud, sometimes low, sometimes rough.
If it's without sense and holds no ground,
It's simply called "Quatsch" all around.

A child laughs loud, makes funny sounds,
Life's seriousness barely surrounds.
But this nonsense, happy and bright,
Is often not Quatsch, just full of life's light.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich habe keinen echten Sinn,
bin oft nur da, wo Worte spinn'.
Man sagt mich schnell, wenn's albern klingt,
und wenn die Logik gar nichts bringt.

Was bin ich, gesprochen meist im Affekt,
und selten nur im Intellekt?

Translation:
I have no real sense or core,
I'm often found where words just pour.
I'm quickly said when things sound silly,
And when logic brings nothing, willy-nilly.

What am I, spoken mostly in the heat,
And rarely found in intellect's seat?

(Answer: der Quatsch)

💡 More about "Quatsch"

Etymology: The word "Quatsch" is onomatopoeic, likely imitating a sound associated with something soft, mushy, or nonsensical. It's closely related to the verb quatschen, which might have originally meant 'to wade through mud' and was later transferred to mean 'to chat, gossip' and 'to talk nonsense'.

Common Phrase: "Mach keinen Quatsch!" – An instruction meaning 'Don't do anything silly!' or 'Don't fool around!'.