der  Schlauch

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ʃlaʊx/

💧 What exactly is a Schlauch?

The word der Schlauch (masculine) primarily refers to a flexible, hollow cylinder, mostly used for transporting liquids or gases. Think, for example, of a Gartenschlauch (garden hose) for watering or the Schlauch (inner tube) in a bicycle tire.

• Gartenschlauch: For watering plants.
• Fahrradschlauch: The inner tube of a tire.
• Feuerwehrschlauch: Hose for extinguishing fires.
• Industrieschlauch: For various technical applications.

🚨 Colloquially, there is the idiom "auf dem Schlauch stehen" (literally: "to stand on the hose"). This means that someone is slow to understand something or is being dense.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar: Der Schlauch in Detail

The word "Schlauch" is a masculine noun. The article is der.

Declension:

Example Sentences

1. Der Schlauch im Garten ist undicht. (The hose in the garden is leaking.)
2. Ich brauche einen neuen Schlauch für mein Fahrrad. (I need a new inner tube for my bike.)
3. Kannst du mir bitte den Schlauch reichen? (Can you please pass me the hose?)
4. Der Druck des Schlauches ist sehr hoch. (The pressure of the hose is very high.)
5. Warum stehst du so auf dem Schlauch? Verstehst du die Aufgabe nicht? (Why are you being so slow on the uptake? Don't you understand the task?)
6. Die Feuerwehr rollte die Schläuche nach dem Einsatz wieder auf. (The fire department rolled up the hoses again after the operation.)

💡 How to use "der Schlauch"

The term "Schlauch" is used in various contexts:

• Everyday life & Household: Mainly as Gartenschlauch (garden hose) or Wasserschlauch (water hose). Also the Staubsaugerschlauch (vacuum cleaner hose) belongs here.
• Technology & Crafts: In industry and crafts, there are many specific hoses, e.g., Druckluftschlauch (compressed air hose), Hydraulikschlauch (hydraulic hose).
• Transport: The Fahrradschlauch (bicycle inner tube) or hoses in motor vehicles (e.g., Kühlmittelschlauch - coolant hose).
• Colloquial speech: The idiom "auf dem Schlauch stehen" is widespread and means not understanding something or being slow-witted.

Compared to Rohr (pipe), a Schlauch is typically flexible, whereas a Rohr is usually rigid. Leitung (line, conduit) is a more general term that can encompass both hoses and pipes.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Here are a couple of memory aids:

For the article 'der': Imagine a strong garderner holding der long Schlauch. The '-er' sound can remind you of 'der'.

For the meaning 'hose/tube': Think of a slinky snake (which moves like a Schlauch) slithering through the garden, spraying water. The 'Schl-' sound is key.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Words

Potential for Confusion:

• Schlauchboot: An inflatable boat made of flexible material. Uses the word "Schlauch" but is a watercraft.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Gärtner den Schlauch mit zum Treffen der anonymen Langsam-Denker gebracht?
Damit endlich mal jemand auf dem Schlauch steht! 😉

(Why did the gardener bring the hose to the meeting of Anonymous Slow Thinkers?
So that finally someone would be "standing on the hose" (i.e., be slow on the uptake)!)

📜 A Poem about the Schlauch

Der Schlauch, so lang und oft grün,
Lässt Wasser durch den Garten zieh'n.
Mal biegsam, mal ganz stramm,
Hilft er der Blumen gegen den Dürre-Gramm.

Im Reifen, da hält er die Luft,
Vermeidet manchen harten Duft
Von Plattfuß, Schweiß und Müh',
Dank ihm rollt's Rad bis spät und früh.

(The hose, so long and often green,
Lets water flow across the garden scene.
Sometimes flexible, sometimes tight,
Helps the flowers against the drought's plight.

In the tire, it holds the air,
Avoids much harsh despair
Of flat tire, sweat, and strain,
Thanks to it, the wheel rolls again and again.)

❓ Little Riddle

Ich bin lang und meistens rund,
Bring Wasser dir zu jeder Stund'.
Im Reifen halt ich Luft dir fest,
Bin flexibel, das ist mein Test.

Manchmal sagt man, du stehst auf mir,
Wenn du was nicht verstehst, glaub mir.

Wer bin ich?

(I am long and mostly round,
Bringing water to your ground.
In the tire, I hold air tight,
I'm flexible, with all my might.

Sometimes they say you're standing on me,
When you don't understand, you see.

Who am I?)

Solution: Der Schlauch (The hose/tube)

🧩 Other Information

Etymology: The word "Schlauch" comes from Middle High German "slūch", which originally meant "gullet", "skin", or "bellows". The connection to flexibility and hollowness is therefore old.

Interesting Fact: There are countless types of hoses for special applications, e.g., high-pressure resistant Hydraulikschläuche (hydraulic hoses), food-grade hoses for the beverage industry (lebensmittelechte Schläuche), or extremely heat-resistant hoses.