der
Rock
👗🎸 What does "der Rock" mean?
The German word der Rock has two main meanings:
- 👗 A piece of clothing (Skirt): Typically worn by women and girls, it covers the lower body from the waist down. The length can vary (Minirock, Midirock, Maxirock).
- 🎸 A music genre (Rock music): Refers to rock music, a popular music genre that developed in the 1950s and 1960s.
🚨 Attention: In German, der Rock does not mean a stone or boulder. For that, you use der Fels or der Stein.
🧐 Grammar of "der Rock" in Detail
Der Rock is a masculine noun. Here is its declension:
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Meaning) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | der | Rock | (the skirt/rock music) |
| Genitive (Whose?) | des | Rock(e)s | (of the skirt/rock music) |
| Dative (To/for whom?) | dem | Rock(e) | (to/for the skirt/rock music) |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | den | Rock | (the skirt/rock music) |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun (Clothing) | Noun (Music*) | (English Meaning) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Röcke | Rocks | (the skirts/rock genres) |
| Genitive | der | Röcke | Rocks | (of the skirts/rock genres) |
| Dative | den | Röcken | Rocks | (to/for the skirts/rock genres) |
| Accusative | die | Röcke | Rocks | (the skirts/rock genres) |
* The plural 'Rocks' for the music genre is rare; usually, the singular or a paraphrase like 'Rock-Genres' or 'Rock-Stile' is used.
💡 Example Sentences
- Clothing: Sie trägt heute einen neuen Rock. (She is wearing a new skirt today.) Die Farbe des Rockes gefällt mir. (I like the color of the skirt.) Hast du den Rock gesehen? (Have you seen the skirt?) Im Schrank hängen viele bunte Röcke. (There are many colorful skirts hanging in the closet.)
- Music: Der Rock der 70er Jahre ist legendär. (The rock music of the 70s is legendary.) Wir hören gerne Rock. (We like listening to rock music.)
🗣️ How to use "der Rock"?
Usage clearly depends on the meaning:
- As clothing (Kleidungsstück - skirt): Used when talking about fashion, clothing choices, shopping. Typical verbs: tragen (to wear), anziehen (to put on), kaufen (to buy), passen (to fit), gefallen (to like). Context: Everyday life, fashion industry, personal descriptions.
- As music genre (Musikrichtung): Used when talking about musical taste, concerts, bands, music history. Typical verbs: hören (to listen), mögen (to like), spielen (to play), gehen (to go to concerts). Context: Leisure, culture, music scene.
⚠️ It's important to understand the intended meaning from the context, even though the grammar (masculine) is the same for both.
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Rock"
For the article (der): Think of a strong, male rockstar (der Rockstar) who is either playing loud music (der Rock) or, jokingly, wearing a Scottish kilt (which is a type of skirt or Schottenrock - der Rock). Both are 'der Rock'.
For the meanings: A Rock can either keep you warm (clothing - Kleidung) or heat you up (music - Musik)!
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- Clothing (Skirt): (depending on style/length) Minirock (mini skirt), Bleistiftrock (pencil skirt), Faltenrock (pleated skirt), Maxirock (maxi skirt).
- Music Genre: Rockmusik (rock music), Hard Rock, Alternative Rock (depending on style).
⚠️ Similar Words (Careful!)
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Warum tragen Schotten Röcke?
Weil Schafe das Geräusch eines Reißverschlusses nicht mögen!
EN: Why do Scotsmen wear kilts (Röcke)?
Because sheep can't stand the sound of a zipper!
📜 Poem about "der Rock"
DE:
Der Rock, so bunt, mal kurz, mal lang,
Begleitet beschwingt den Sommer entlang.
Doch auch als Musik, mit Bass und Gitarre,
Bringt der Rock uns in Fahrt, das ist doch das Wahre!
EN:
The skirt, so colorful, short or long,
Swings lightly through the summer along.
But also as music, with bass and guitar,
Rock gets us going, that's truly the star!
🤔 Riddle
DE:
Ich habe keine Beine, doch man trägt mich gern am Bein.
Ich habe keine Stimme, doch kann laut und kräftig sein.
Wer oder was bin ich?
... Der Rock
EN:
I have no legs, but I'm often worn on legs.
I have no voice, but I can be loud and strong.
Who or what am I?
... Der Rock (as a skirt or music)
✨ Other Information
Etymology/Origin:
- Clothing (Kleidungsstück): The word Rock for the item of clothing comes from the Old High German 'roc', which originally referred to an outer garment for both men and women.
- Music Genre (Musikrichtung): This meaning was directly adopted from English ('Rock and Roll') in the 20th century.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Rock?
The word "Rock" is always masculine: der Rock. It refers to either a piece of clothing (the skirt) or a music genre (rock music). The plural for the clothing item is "die Röcke"; for the music genre, the singular form is most commonly used.