der  Schlafsack

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʃlaːfzak/

🛌 What is a Schlafsack?

A Schlafsack (der Schlafsack, des Schlafsacks, die Schlafsäcke) is a German noun referring to a sleeping bag. It's typically a padded or down-filled bag designed to keep a person warm while sleeping, especially outdoors (e.g., when camping) or in basic accommodations. It often replaces a duvet and sometimes even a mattress.

There are different types, for example:

• Mumienschlafsack: Mummy bag - close-fitting, often with a hood, very thermally efficient.
• Deckenschlafsack: Rectangular or blanket bag - can often be fully opened and used as a blanket.
• Kinderschlafsack: Children's sleeping bag - smaller and tailored to children's needs.

The article is always der. ⚠️ There are no other articles for this word.

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Schlafsack

The word "Schlafsack" is a masculine noun. The article is always der.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Der Schlafsack liegt bereit für das Wochenende. (The sleeping bag is ready for the weekend.)
2. Die Qualität des Schlafsacks ist entscheidend für kalte Nächte. (The quality of the sleeping bag is crucial for cold nights.)
3. Ich liege gemütlich in dem Schlafsack. (I am lying comfortably in the sleeping bag.)
4. Pack bitte den Schlafsack ein! (Please pack the sleeping bag!)
5. Die Kinder haben ihre eigenen Schlafsäcke mitgebracht. (The children brought their own sleeping bags.)

🏕️ How to Use "Schlafsack"?

The term Schlafsack is primarily used in the context of outdoor activities, travel, and sleeping away from one's own bed.

• Camping & Zelten (Tent Camping): The most common use. "Don't forget your Schlafsack; it gets cold at night." (Vergiss deinen Schlafsack nicht, es wird nachts kalt.)
• Wandern & Trekking (Hiking & Trekking): For overnight stays in huts or outdoors.
• Festivals: Often the preferred sleeping gear in a tent.
• Übernachtungsgäste (Overnight Guests): Sometimes used as a makeshift guest bed. "Can you lend me a Schlafsack?" (Kannst du mir einen Schlafsack leihen?)
• Biwakieren (Bivouacking): Necessary for sleeping without a tent.

Compared to a Bettdecke (duvet/blanket), a Schlafsack is more portable and often warmer because it encloses the body. Compared to a Biwaksack (bivy bag), a Schlafsack is primarily for insulation, while a Biwaksack mainly protects against moisture and wind (often used together).

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Article Mnemonic: Think of der Sack (the sack/bag). Many common 'Sack' words in German are masculine (der Müllsack - garbage bag, der Rucksack - backpack). So it's der Schlaf-Sack.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you schlafen (sleep) inside a big Sack (bag) – that's your Schlafsack.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Words That Might Cause Confusion:

• Biwaksack: This is a protective cover (often waterproof) for the Schlafsack, not an insulation layer itself.
• Hüttenschlafsack: A very thin sleeping bag liner, usually made of cotton or silk, primarily used for hygiene reasons in mountain huts (Hütten).

😄 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Skelette keinen Schlafsack mit zum Camping?
(Why don't skeletons take a sleeping bag camping?)

Weil sie lieber in ihren Knochen-Zelten schlafen! 😉
(Because they prefer to sleep in their 'bone tents'! - Play on words, sounds like 'Bodenzelten' - ground tents, but uses 'Knochen' - bones)

📜 Poem About the Schlafsack

Der Schlafsack, warm und weich,
Für Nächte unterm Sternenreich.
Ob Zelt, ob Hütte, völlig gleich,
Macht er den Schlaf zum süßen Streich.

Man rollt ihn aus, kriecht schnell hinein,
Vergisst den Wind, den kalten Schein.
So schläft man gut und sicher ein,
Im warmen, treuen Schlafsack sein.

The Sleeping Bag, warm and soft,
For nights beneath the starry loft.
Be it tent or hut, it matters not,
It makes sleep a sweet and gentle plot.

You roll it out, crawl quickly in,
Forget the wind, the cold light's sheen.
So you sleep well and safe within,
Your warm and faithful sleeping bag's skin.

❓ Riddle

Ich bin ein Sack, doch ohne Korn,
Ich halte dich warm von Abend bis zum Morn'.
Beim Campen bin ich stets dabei,
Was bin ich wohl? Na, eins, zwei, drei!

I am a sack, but hold no grain,
I keep you warm from dusk till morning again.
When camping, I am always near,
What am I? Tell me loud and clear!

Solution: Der Schlafsack (The sleeping bag)

🧩 More Information

Word Composition:

The word "Schlafsack" is a compound noun, composed of:

• Schlaf(en): The verb to sleep.
• Sack: A bag or sack, usually made of flexible material.

So, literally a "sack for sleeping".

Trivia:

The temperature ratings on sleeping bags (Comfort, Limit, Extreme) are often standardized according to the European Norm EN 13537 to ensure comparability.