der
Riegel
🚪🍫🤸 What exactly is a Riegel?
The word der Riegel has several meanings, but it is always masculine.
- Mechanical Lock/Bolt 🔒: The most common meaning is a mechanical component for locking something, usually a door (Tür), window (Fenster), or gate (Tor). You slide the bolt (Man schiebt den Riegel vor) to secure something. Examples: der Türriegel (door bolt), der Fensterriegel (window bolt), der Querriegel (cross-bolt).
- Candy Bar 🍫: An oblong, solid sweet treat, often made of chocolate (Schokolade), nuts (Nüssen), or cereal (Müsli). Examples: der Schokoriegel (chocolate bar), der Müsliriegel (cereal bar).
- Gymnastics Bar (rare) 🤸: Sometimes the term is used for a bar in gymnastics, similar to the high bar (Reck) or parallel bars (Barren), but this usage is less common.
- Obstacle / Barrier 🚧: Figuratively, "einen Riegel vorschieben" means to put a stop to something or prevent it.
⚠️ Although the meanings differ, the article is always der.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-el → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. there are many -el words, we don't list them all.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Riegel
The noun "Riegel" is masculine. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Riegel |
| Genitive | des | Riegels |
| Dative | dem | Riegel |
| Accusative | den | Riegel |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Riegel |
| Genitive | der | Riegel |
| Dative | den | Riegeln |
| Accusative | die | Riegel |
Example Sentences
- Bitte schieb den Riegel vor, wenn du gehst.
(Please slide the bolt when you leave.) - Nach dem Sport esse ich gerne einen Proteinriegel.
(After sports, I like to eat a protein bar.) - Sie versuchten, der Korruption einen Riegel vorzuschieben.
(They tried to put a stop to the corruption.)
🗣️ How to Use "Riegel"?
- Securing doors/windows: In everyday life, you'll hear "den Riegel vorschieben" (to slide the bolt shut) or "den Riegel zurückziehen" (to pull the bolt back). It describes manual locking or unlocking.
- Describing snacks: "Schokoriegel" (chocolate bar), "Müsliriegel" (cereal bar), "Energieriegel" (energy bar) are common terms for quick snacks in this bar shape.
- Stopping something: The idiom "einer Sache (Dativ) einen Riegel vorschieben" is very common and means to put a stop to something or to prevent something (e.g., dem Missbrauch einen Riegel vorschieben - to put a stop to the abuse).
The context usually clarifies which meaning is intended. The mechanical meaning is the original one.
💡 Mnemonics for "der Riegel"
Article Mnemonic: A Riegel is often rigid and strong (like a 'guy' -> der), whether it's made of metal (door bolt) or for eating (a hard cereal bar). The 'R' sound might also help associate it with strong/rigid/der.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you riegel (bolt) the door with a metal Riegel to protect your chocolate Riegel (bars) from thieves trying to climb over a gymnastics Riegel.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Words with similar meaning):
- For bolt/lock: der Bolzen (bolt), der Schieber (slider), das Schloss (lock - broader term), die Verriegelung (locking mechanism)
- For candy bar: die Stange (bar, e.g., Schokostange - chocolate bar), die Schnitte (slice - rarer for bar shape)
- For idiom 'stop': Einhalt gebieten (to call a halt), stoppen (to stop), unterbinden (to prevent)
Watch out for confusion: Don't confuse "Riegel" with "Regal" (das Regal - shelf) or "Rüpel" (der Rüpel - ruffian).
😄 A Little Riegel Joke
German: Warum hat der Schokoriegel mit dem Türriegel Schluss gemacht?
Er fand die Beziehung zu verschlossen! 😄
English: Why did the chocolate bar break up with the door bolt?
He found the relationship too closed off! 😄 (Pun on "verschlossen" meaning locked/closed and withdrawn/uncommunicative)
📜 Riegel Rhymes
German:
Der Riegel an der Tür hält Wacht,
hat schon manchen Plan zunicht' gemacht.
Der Riegel süß, aus Schokolade fein,
passt in jede Tasche rein.
Ein Riegel, vorgeschoben schnell,
macht dunkel, was zuvor war hell.
Ob Schloss, ob Snack, ob Stoppsignal,
der Riegel kennt man überall.
English Translation:
The bolt upon the door keeps watch,
Has thwarted many plans as such.
The bar so sweet, of chocolate fine,
Fits into every pocket of mine.
A bolt that's quickly slid across,
Makes dark what once had light, no loss.
Be it lock, or snack, or stopping sign,
The 'Riegel' is known, yours and mine.
🧩 Who or What Am I? A Riegel Riddle
German:
Ich kann dich aussperren oder schützen,
und manchmal kann ich auch sehr nützen,
wenn Hunger kommt, ganz ohne Frage,
ich bin bei dir an manchem Tage.
Mal hart aus Stahl, mal süß und weich,
errate mich, na komm schon gleich!
English:
I can lock you out or keep you safe inside,
And sometimes I'm useful, cannot be denied.
When hunger strikes, without a doubt,
I'm with you many days about.
Sometimes hard as steel, sometimes soft and sweet,
Guess who I am, come on, don't retreat!
Solution: der Riegel (the bolt / the bar)
⚙️ More about Riegel
Compound Words (Wortzusammensetzungen)
"Riegel" is often part of compound nouns that specify its meaning:
- Türriegel: Tür (door) + Riegel = door bolt
- Fensterriegel: Fenster (window) + Riegel = window bolt
- Schokoriegel: Schoko (choco) + Riegel = chocolate bar
- Müsliriegel: Müsli (cereal/granola) + Riegel = cereal/granola bar
- Querriegel: Quer (cross/transverse) + Riegel = cross-bolt (often for extra security)
- Nachtriegel: Nacht (night) + Riegel = night latch/bolt
- Vorschubriegel: Vorschub (advance/feed) + Riegel = feed bar/bolt (technical term)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Riegel?
The German word "Riegel" is always masculine. The correct article is der Riegel, regardless of whether it refers to a door bolt, a chocolate bar, or an idiomatic expression. The plural form is "die Riegel".