der
Schaden
💔 What does "der Schaden" mean?
The noun der Schaden (plural: die Schäden) describes a negative effect, a loss, or impairment that occurs to a thing, a person, or a situation. It can refer to material, physical, or intangible damage.
- Material damage (materieller Schaden): Damage to property (e.g., to a car after an accident).
- Physical harm (körperlicher Schaden): Injury or health impairment of a person.
- Intangible damage (immaterieller Schaden): Damage to reputation, financial loss without direct property damage (e.g., lost profits).
It is a masculine noun and is always used with the article "der". ⚠️ Don't confuse it with the verb "schaden" (to harm/damage someone/something).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-en → mostly masculine.
1. All diminutives with '-chen' are neutral, like 'das Mädchen'. 2. Nouns derived from verbs are always neutral ('das Schrieben'). 3. There are many -en words, we won't list them all.
🧐 Grammar of "der Schaden" in Detail
"Der Schaden" is a masculine noun. Here are the declension tables:
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | der | Schaden |
| Genitive (Possessive) | des | Schadens |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | dem | Schaden |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | den | Schaden |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Schäden |
| Genitive | der | Schäden |
| Dative | den | Schäden |
| Accusative | die | Schäden |
Example Sentences
- Der Schaden am Dach war größer als erwartet.
(The damage to the roof was greater than expected.) - Die Versicherung übernahm die Kosten des Schadens.
(The insurance covered the costs of the damage.) - Dem Auto wurde bei dem Unfall ein erheblicher Schaden zugefügt.
(The car suffered considerable damage in the accident.) - Er meldete den Schaden sofort seiner Versicherung.
(He reported the damage to his insurance immediately.) - Die Unwetter verursachten große Schäden in der Landwirtschaft.
(The storms caused great damage in agriculture.)
💡 How "der Schaden" is used
"Der Schaden" is a very common word, especially in contexts where something negative has happened:
- Insurance (Versicherungen): Reporting a claim (Meldung eines Schadens), settling a claim (Regulierung eines Schadens), e.g., Wasserschaden (water damage), Haftpflichtschaden (liability damage).
- Accidents (Unfälle): Describing the extent of destruction or injury, e.g., Sachschaden (property damage), Personenschaden (personal injury).
- Law (Recht): Claiming damages (Forderung von Schadenersatz), determining liability (Haftung) for damage.
- Health (Gesundheit): Describing health impairments, e.g., Leberschaden (liver damage), Hirnschaden (brain damage).
- General: Describing any disadvantage or loss, e.g., Imageschaden (damage to image/reputation), finanzieller Schaden (financial loss).
Typical Collocations:
- Schaden anrichten/verursachen: To cause damage actively.
- Schaden nehmen/erleiden: To suffer damage passively.
- Schaden begrenzen/beheben: To take measures to minimize or repair the damage.
- zum Schaden von jemandem/etwas: To someone's/something's detriment.
- Aus Schaden wird man klug: A proverb meaning "one learns from bad experiences" (literally: "From damage, one becomes wise").
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Schaden"
Article Mnemonic: Think of 'DER' as 'the daredevil' – daredevils often cause *Schaden* (damage) with their risky actions. This helps remember it's *der Schaden*.
Meaning Mnemonic: "Schaden" sounds a bit like the English word 'sharden' (like shards of glass). Shards cause *damage*. If something is broken into shards, there is *Schaden*.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms of Schaden
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- die Beschädigung: Focuses on physical destruction of an object.
- der Verlust: Emphasizes the loss of something valuable.
- der Nachteil: More abstract, a disadvantage or unfavorable situation.
- die Beeinträchtigung: Impairment or reduction in function or quality.
- das Manko: A defect or deficit.
- das Leid: More related to emotional or physical suffering.
⚠️ Similar Sounding Words:
- der Schatten: (shadow) Sounds similar but has a completely different meaning.
- schade: (pity, too bad) An adjective or interjection expressing regret, related to "Schaden". E.g., "Das ist aber schade!" (That's a pity!)
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Warum hat der Computer Schadenersatz gefordert?
Weil er einen Virus hatte und sich beeinträchtigt fühlte! 🤧💻
EN: Why did the computer demand compensation (Schadenersatz)?
Because it had a virus and felt impaired! 🤧💻
📜 Poem about Damage
DE:
Ein Riss im Glas, ein Kratzer klein,
So fängt er an, der böse Schein.
Ein Wort gesagt, zu schnell, zu laut,
Ein Ruf zerstört, nicht mehr vertraut.
Der Schaden wächst, wenn man nicht acht,
Hat schon so manchen umgebracht –
Den guten Ruf, das heile Glück,
Drum halt die Folgen stets im Blick!
EN:
A crack in the glass, a scratch so small,
That's how it starts, the evil call.
A word spoken, too fast, too loud,
A reputation destroyed, no longer vowed.
The damage (der Schaden) grows if one's not aware,
Has finished off so many there –
The good name, the wholesome luck,
So always keep the results in check!
❓ Riddle Time
DE:
Ich bin kein Gewinn, bring oft nur Leid,
Entsteh durch Unfall, Streit und Zeit.
Man meldet mich der Versicherung schnell,
Ob groß, ob klein, ob dunkel, hell.
Was bin ich? (Auflösung: Der Schaden)
EN:
I am no profit, often bring but pain,
Arise from accident, dispute, and time's domain.
I'm quickly reported to the insurance bright,
Whether big or small, whether dark or light.
What am I? (Answer: Der Schaden / Damage)
🧩 Other Interesting Details
Word Compounds (Komposita): "Schaden" is a very productive base word for compounds that specify the type of damage:
- Sachschaden: Damage to property/objects.
- Personenschaden: Damage to persons (injury, death).
- Wasserschaden: Water damage.
- Brandschaden: Fire damage.
- Totalschaden: Total loss (repair not possible or economical).
- Imageschaden: Damage to image or reputation.
- Kollateralschaden: Collateral damage (unintended damage).
Related Verb:
- schaden (+ Dative case): to harm or damage someone or something. Example: Rauchen schadet der Gesundheit. (Smoking harms the health.)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Schaden?
The German word "Schaden" is masculine. The correct article is always der Schaden. The plural is "die Schäden".