der
Schuh
👟 What exactly is a 'Schuh'?
Der Schuh (plural: die Schuhe) refers to an item of clothing that serves to protect and cover the human foot. Schuhe typically consist of a sturdy sole (die Sohle) and an upper material (das Obermaterial) that encloses the foot.
There are countless types of Schuhe for various purposes, weather conditions, and occasions, such as sports shoes (Sportschuhe), boots (Stiefel), sandals (Sandalen), slippers (Hausschuhe), or elegant evening shoes (Abendschuhe).
Since it only uses the article der, there's no risk of confusion regarding the article and its meaning. Der Schuh always refers to footwear.
🧐 Grammar Deep Dive: Der Schuh
The noun "Schuh" is masculine. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Schuh |
| Genitive | des | Schuh(e)s |
| Dative | dem | Schuh(e) |
| Accusative | den | Schuh |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Schuhe |
| Genitive | der | Schuhe |
| Dative | den | Schuhen |
| Accusative | die | Schuhe |
📝 Example Sentences
- Der Schuh passt perfekt. (The shoe fits perfectly. - Nominative Singular)
- Die Sohle des Schuhs ist abgelaufen. (The sole of the shoe is worn out. - Genitive Singular)
- Ich gebe dem Schuh neue Schnürsenkel. (I'm giving the shoe new laces. - Dative Singular)
- Er putzt den Schuh sorgfältig. (He cleans the shoe carefully. - Accusative Singular)
- Die Schuhe stehen im Flur. (The shoes are in the hallway. - Nominative Plural)
- Der Preis der Schuhe war hoch. (The price of the shoes was high. - Genitive Plural)
- Mit diesen Schuhen kann man gut wandern. (You can hike well with these shoes. - Dative Plural)
- Sie hat sich neue Schuhe gekauft. (She bought new shoes. - Accusative Plural)
💡 How to use "der Schuh"?
"Der Schuh" is a very common word in German. It's used in everyday contexts when talking about clothing or feet.
- General Footwear: "Ich brauche neue Schuhe für den Winter." (I need new shoes for the winter.)
- Idiomatic Expressions:
- "Sich den Schuh anziehen" (lit. 'to put the shoe on oneself'): To take a (often negative) statement or criticism personally or apply it to oneself. Example: "Warum ziehst du dir den Schuh an? Ich habe doch gar nicht dich gemeint." (Why are you taking that personally? I wasn't talking about you.)
- "Wissen, wo der Schuh drückt" (lit. 'to know where the shoe pinches'): To know what the real problem or difficulty is. Example: "Er kennt die Sorgen der Mitarbeiter, er weiß, wo der Schuh drückt." (He knows the employees' concerns, he knows what the real issue is.)
- "Das sind zwei Paar Schuhe" (lit. 'those are two pairs of shoes'): Those are two different, incomparable things. Example: "Theorie und Praxis sind oft zwei Paar Schuhe." (Theory and practice are often two different things.)
- Context: People talk about Schuhe when shopping (im Schuhgeschäft - in the shoe store), getting dressed, doing sports, or describing people.
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Article Mnemonic: Imagine a very masculine-presenting person (suggesting 'der') proudly showing off their new shoes. Or think: Shoes often come in pairs, but you refer to *one* shoe as 'der Schuh'. Maybe think of 'DERminator' wearing tough boots (Schuhe).
Meaning Mnemonic: The German word "Schuh" sounds very similar to the English word "Shoe". You can easily connect the sound.
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Words)
- Fußbekleidung: A more general, slightly more formal term for footwear.
- Treter (colloquial): Slang, often slightly derogatory for clunky or old shoes.
- Stiefel: Boot(s) - a specific type of shoe reaching above the ankle.
- Sandale: Sandal(s) - open footwear for warm weather.
- Latschen (colloquial): Slang for slippers or simple, open shoes.
Antonyms (Opposite Concepts)
- Barfuß / barfüßig: The adjective/adverb meaning 'barefoot', describing the state of not wearing shoes. There isn't a direct noun opposite.
- Unbeschuht: An archaic adjective for 'unshod' or 'without shoes'.
⚠️ Similar but different words
- Handschuh (der): Glove - clothing for the hand, not the foot.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum tragen Skelette keine Schuhe?
Weil sie keine Füße haben, nur Knochen!
(Why don't skeletons wear shoes?
Because they don't have feet, only bones!) 😄
✒️ A Poem About Shoes
Der Schuh, der Schuh, so wunderbar,
Er trägt uns hin, Jahr für Jahr.
Mal schick, mal sportlich, mal ganz alt,
Er schützt den Fuß vor heiß und kalt.
Ein treuer Freund auf Schritt und Tritt,
Der gute Schuh, er geht stets mit.
(The shoe, the shoe, so wonderful,
It carries us along, year after year.
Sometimes chic, sometimes sporty, sometimes very old,
It protects the foot from heat and cold.
A loyal friend at every step,
The good shoe always comes along.)
❓ A Little Riddle
Ich habe eine Zunge, doch kann nicht schmecken.
Ich habe eine Sohle, doch kann nicht gehen.
Ich schütze deine Füße, wenn sie Wege entdecken.
Was bin ich?
(I have a tongue, but cannot taste.
I have a sole, but cannot walk.
I protect your feet when they discover paths.
What am I?)
Solution: Der Schuh (The shoe)
✨ More About 'der Schuh'
Word Origin
The word "Schuh" comes from the Old High German "scuoh" and has Germanic roots related to the meaning of "covering".
Types of Shoes
There is an enormous variety of shoe types (Schuharten), including:
- Turnschuhe / Sneaker (Sneakers / Trainers)
- Stiefel / Stiefeletten (Boots / Ankle boots)
- Sandalen / Flip-Flops (Sandals / Flip-flops)
- Pumps / High Heels (Pumps / High heels)
- Hausschuhe / Pantoffeln (Slippers)
- Wanderschuhe / Bergschuhe (Hiking boots / Mountain boots)
- Arbeitsschuhe / Sicherheitsschuhe (Work shoes / Safety shoes)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Schuh?
The German word for "shoe" is der Schuh (masculine). The plural is die Schuhe. There are no other articles associated with this word.