der  Schütze

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʃʏtsə/

🎯 What does 'der Schütze' mean?

The German word der Schütze primarily has two meanings:

• Person who shoots: Someone who uses a firearm or bow (Gewehr, Pistole, Bogen etc.), whether in sports, hunting, or a military context. Examples: Sportschütze (sports shooter), Bogenschütze (archer), Scharfschütze (sniper).
• Zodiac sign: The ninth sign of the zodiac (Latin: Sagittarius), for people born between November 23rd and December 21st. Often referred to simply as Schütze.

It is a masculine noun.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Focus: Declining 'der Schütze'

Der Schütze is a masculine noun belonging to the weak N-declension (schwache N-Deklination). This means it adds an "-n" ending in all cases except the nominative singular.

💡 Example Sentences

1. Der Schütze traf genau ins Schwarze.
   (The shooter hit the bullseye.)
2. Mein Bruder ist im Sternzeichen Schütze geboren.
   (My brother was born under the sign of Sagittarius.)
3. Der Polizist sprach mit dem Schützen. (Dative Singular)
   (The policeman spoke with the shooter.)
4. Wir sahen viele Schützen beim Wettbewerb. (Accusative Plural)
   (We saw many shooters at the competition.)

🗣️ Using 'Schütze' in Context

• Sports & Military: Very common for people who shoot. Key terms include Sportschütze (sports shooter), Heckenschütze (sniper, often negative), Schützenverein (shooting club), Schützenfest (marksmen's fair).
• Astrology: Used for the zodiac sign and people born under it. Often simply called Schütze (e.g., Er ist Schütze - He is a Sagittarius).
• Figurative Use: Less common, but possible, e.g., in football (soccer) for a goalscorer (Torschütze is more common).

⚠️ Remember the N-declension! It's Ich sehe den Schützen (I see the shooter), not Ich sehe den Schütze.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember 'der Schütze'

Article Mnemonic: Der man who shoots is der Schütze. (Masculine person = der).

Meaning Mnemonic: Picture a Sagittarius (♐︎) archer (Schütze) who shoots (from schießen) an arrow.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

😄 A Little Joke

German: Warum sind Schützen (Sternzeichen) so schlecht im Versteckspielen?
Weil sie immer ihr Ziel verraten! 😉

English: Why are Sagittariuses (Schützen) so bad at hide-and-seek?
Because they always give away their aim (goal/target)! 😉

📜 Poem about the Schütze

German:
Der Schütze zielt, das Auge klar,
Ob mit dem Bogen, wunderbar,
Ob mit Gewehr, im Wettkampfstand,
Hält er die Spannung in der Hand.
Auch Sterne tragen diesen Namen,
Ein Zeichen in des Himmels Rahmen.

English Translation:
The Schütze aims, the eye is clear,
Whether with the bow, wonderfully near,
Or with a rifle, on the competition ground,
He holds the tension tightly bound.
Stars also bear this very name,
A sign within the heaven's frame.

❓ Riddle Time

German:
Ich kann am Himmel stehen als Bild,
Und treffe oft das Ziel ganz wild.
Im Verein bin ich aktiv,
Mein Artikel ist positiv maskulin, nicht negativ.

Wer bin ich?

English:
I can stand in the sky as a picture,
And often hit the target with wild venture.
In a club, I am active,
My article is masculine positive, not negative.

Who am I?

Solution: der Schütze

✨ Other Interesting Facts

Word Origin: The word 'Schütze' derives directly from the verb 'schießen', meaning 'to shoot'.

Cultural Note: Shooting clubs (Schützenvereine) and marksmen's festivals (Schützenfeste) have a long tradition in many regions of Germany and are important social events.

Astrology: The zodiac sign Sagittarius (Schütze) is associated with traits like optimism, love of freedom, and directness.