der  Schlag

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ʃlaːk/

👊 What does "der Schlag" mean?

The word der Schlag is a masculine noun in German and has a surprising number of meanings! Here are the most important ones:

• Physical Impact: A hit, blow, punch, or impact. Example: Er bekam einen Schlag auf den Kopf. (He got a blow to the head.)
• Medical: Often short for Schlaganfall (stroke), a sudden disruption of blood flow in the brain. Example: Sein Großvater hatte einen leichten Schlag. (His grandfather had a mild stroke.) ⚠️ Note: Very serious in a medical context!
• Music & Rhythm: A beat or measure in music. Example: Die Trommel gibt den Schlag an. (The drum sets the beat.) Also, the striking of a key or string.
• Sound: A sudden, loud bang or strike, often related to weather (Donnerschlag - thunderclap) or clocks (Glockenschlag - bell strike). Example: Um Mitternacht ertönten zwölf Schläge. (Twelve strokes sounded at midnight.)
• Type or Kind: A particular sort, breed, type, or ilk of person or thing (often slightly colloquial or derogatory). Example: Menschen von seinem Schlag sind selten. (People of his ilk are rare.) Er ist ein anderer Schlag Mensch. (He's a different type of person.)
• Agriculture/Plot: A defined parcel or plot of a field or forest. Example: Der Bauer bestellt seinen Schlag. (The farmer cultivates his plot.)
• Door/Car Door: The slamming of a door. Example: Der laute Schlag der Tür weckte ihn. (The loud slam of the door woke him.)

The specific meaning usually becomes clear from the context.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar of "der Schlag" in Detail

Der Schlag is a strong masculine noun. The genitive singular ends in -(e)s, and the plural is Schläge.

Example Sentences

• Nominative: Der Schlag war sehr laut. (The bang/strike was very loud. - Sound)
• Genitive: Die Folgen des Schlages waren schwerwiegend. (The consequences of the stroke were severe. - Medical)
• Dative: Er entkam nur knapp dem Schlag. (He barely escaped the blow. - Physical Impact)
• Accusative: Sie hörte den Schlag der Kirchturmuhr. (She heard the strike of the church clock. - Sound/Time)
• Plural: Der Boxer verteilte viele Schläge. (The boxer delivered many blows/punches. - Physical Impact)
• Plural: Die verschiedenen Schläge von Äpfeln schmecken unterschiedlich. (The different kinds/sorts of apples taste different. - Type/Sort)

🗣️ How to Use "der Schlag"?

The usage of der Schlag strongly depends on its specific meaning:

• Hit/Blow: Often used in contexts of violence, sports (boxing, tennis), or accidents. Example: ein Schlag ins Gesicht (a punch in the face), der Aufschlag beim Tennis (the serve in tennis).
• Stroke (Medical): Mainly in the medical field or when discussing health. Use with care, as it's a serious topic.
• Beat/Rhythm: In music, dance, and poetry. Example: im gleichen Schlag marschieren (to march in step), der Schlag des Metronoms (the beat of the metronome).
• Sound: For clocks (Glockenschlag - strike of the bell), weather (Donnerschlag - thunderclap), or sudden noises (slamming a door).
• Type/Sort: Rather colloquial for characterizing people or things. Can sometimes sound derogatory. Example: Er ist nicht von diesem Schlag. (He's not of that ilk/type.) Das ist ein ganz neuer Schlag Auto. (That's a completely new type of car.)

Important Idioms

• Schlag auf Schlag: One after another in quick succession.
• Ein harter Schlag: A hard blow (of fate), a severe setback.
• Mit einem Schlag: Suddenly, all at once.
• Den letzten Schlag geben: To deliver the final blow, to cause something to collapse.

Compared to Stoß (push, thrust) or Hieb (stroke, slash), Schlag can be broader and also encompass rhythmic or figurative meanings.

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Schlag"

Remembering the Article "der":

Think of a strong MAN (der Mann) delivering a powerful Schlag (blow) or felling a tree (Holzschlag). Masculine strength -> der Schlag.

Remembering the Meanings:

Imagine a chain of events: A boxer (der Mann) gives his opponent a Schlag (hit). The opponent falls – a heavy Schlag (blow of fate) for him! Maybe he even suffers a medical Schlag (stroke). In the background, you hear the gong – a loud Schlag (sound) with the right Schlag (rhythm/beat). That Schlag (type/kind) of fight is brutal!

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words (Potential Confusion):

• schlagen (verb): The action leading to a Schlag (to hit, beat, strike).
• verschlagen (adjective): Cunning, sly.
• beschlagen (adjective): 1. Covered with condensation (e.g., window). 2. Knowledgeable, skilled (e.g., in einem Thema beschlagen sein - to be well-versed in a topic).

😂 A Little Joke

German: Warum hat der Hammer beim Arzt angerufen? – Er hatte einen Schlaganfall!

English: Why did the hammer call the doctor? – It had a stroke! (Pun: Schlaganfall = stroke; Schlag = hit/strike, like a hammer does)

📜 Poem about "der Schlag"

German:
Der Schlag der Uhr, er zählt die Zeit,
Ein Donnerschlag, der Himmel schreit.
Ein harter Schlag, das Schicksal trifft,
Ein falscher Schlag, der Rhythmus kippt.
Ein Herzensschlag, so voll Gefühl,
Ein Menschenschlag, oft kühl.
So viele Schläge, groß und klein,
Das Wort „der Schlag“ passt oft hinein.

English Translation:
The clock's strike, it counts the time,
A thunderclap, the heavens cry.
A heavy blow, fate strikes its mark,
A missed beat, the rhythm goes dark.
A heartbeat, so full of feel,
A certain ilk of man, often cool.
So many strikes, both big and small,
The word "der Schlag" fits them all.

🤔 Little Riddle

German:
Ich kann ein harter Treffer sein,
doch auch Musik, ganz fein.
Ich bring die Zeit, Schlag auf Schlag,
und treff das Hirn an manchem Tag.
Man sagt, du bist von meinem Schlag,
wenn man dich mag (oder nicht mag).

Was bin ich?

English Translation:
I can be a heavy hit,
But also music, quite exquisite.
I bring the time, beat by beat,
And hit the brain, a nasty feat.
They say you're of my ilk or type,
Depending if you fit the hype.

What am I?

Solution: der Schlag

🧩 Other Information

Compound Words (Komposita):

Der Schlag is part of many compound words in German:

• Schlaganfall (stroke - medical)
• Schlagzeug (drum kit - music)
• Schlagsahne (whipped cream - food, literally 'hit cream')
• Schlagbohrer (hammer drill - tool)
• Schlagzeile (headline - media, literally 'hit line')
• Herzschlag (heartbeat - medical/emotional)
• Donnerschlag (thunderclap - weather)
• Rückschlag (setback, relapse - literally 'back-hit')
• Aufschlag (serve in sports like tennis; impact - literally 'on-hit')
• Ausschlag (rash on skin; swing of a pendulum - literally 'out-hit')
• Zuschlag (surcharge; slamming of a door - literally 'to-hit')

Etymology (Word Origin):

The word Schlag comes from the Old High German word "slag", which in turn derives from the verb "slahan" (to hit, to strike). The basic meaning of a forceful impact has diversified over the centuries into many different directions.