der  Stängel

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʃtɛŋəl/

🌱 What exactly is a 'Stängel'?

The German word der Stängel (sometimes also written Stengel, although Stängel is the recommended spelling) refers to the part of a plant that bears leaves, flowers, and fruits, often growing vertically. It provides support, transports water and nutrients, and sometimes stores reserves for the plant.

It's a masculine noun, so the article is always der.

⚠️ Attention: Don't confuse it with Stiel (often shorter, directly attached to a leaf or flower) or Halm (typical for grasses).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar: Declension of 'der Stängel'

The noun 'Stängel' is masculine and follows the strong declension pattern. The plural form is identical to the singular, which is common for nouns ending in '-el'.

📝 Example Sentences

• Der Stängel der Sonnenblume war sehr dick. (The stem of the sunflower was very thick.)
• Man kann am Stängel das Alter der Pflanze oft nicht erkennen. (You often can't tell the age of the plant by its stem.)
• Die Raupe kroch langsam den Stängel hinauf. (The caterpillar slowly crawled up the stem.)
• Viele Blumen haben zarte Stängel. (Many flowers have delicate stems.)
• Gib den Blumen mit den langen Stängeln frisches Wasser. (Give fresh water to the flowers with the long stems.)

💡 How to use 'Stängel'?

The term 'Stängel' is primarily used in the context of plants, both in botany and everyday language.

• Botany: To describe the plant axis forming the shoot system.
• Gardening: When pruning plants or arranging flowers, people often refer to Stängel.
• Everyday life: When talking about flowers or plants, e.g., "Die Rose hat einen langen Stängel mit Dornen." (The rose has a long stem with thorns.)

Distinction from similar words:

• Stiel: Often the shorter part connecting a single leaf, flower, or fruit to the main Stängel or branch (e.g., Apfelstiel - apple stalk, Blattstiel - leaf stalk).
• Halm: The hollow or pithy stem of grasses and cereals (e.g., Weizenhalm - wheat stalk).
• Stamm: The woody main stem of a tree (trunk).

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

For the article (der): Think of der strong, masculine plant Stängel, der carries everything. He is 'der' carrier.

For the meaning (Stem): A Stängel is like a little 'Stange' (rod/pole, which is feminine 'die', but related to 'Stab' which is masculine 'der', think of it as a strong pole-like structure) that sticks out of the ground and supports the plant.

↔️ Synonyms & Related Terms

Similar but different terms:

• Ast: branch of a tree or shrub.
• Zweig: twig, smaller branch off an Ast.
• Stamm: trunk of a tree.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Salat Gärtner gelernt?
Damit er weiß, woher die Stängel kommen!

(Why did the lettuce study gardening?
So it knows where the stems come from!)

✍️ Poem about the 'Stängel'

Ein grüner Stängel, stark und schlank,
Wächst himmelwärts, Gott sei Dank.
Er trägt das Blatt, die Blüte zart,
Ein Kunstwerk ganz besond'rer Art.
Im Wind er wiegt sich hin und her,
Das Leben schenkt er, bitte sehr.

(A green stem, strong and slim,
Grows skyward, thank God for him.
It bears the leaf, the flower tender,
A work of art of special splendor.
In the wind, it sways to and fro,
Life it gives, please know.)

❓ Little Riddle

Ich trage Blätter, doch hab keine Hand,
Strecke mich zur Sonne, aus dem Land.
Manchmal bin ich dünn, manchmal dick und breit,
Steh' im Garten oder auf der Wiese weit.

Was bin ich? ... Der Stängel

(I bear leaves, but have no hand,
I reach for the sun, out of the land.
Sometimes I'm thin, sometimes thick and wide,
Standing in the garden or meadow, far and wide.

What am I?
... The stem (der Stängel))

ℹ️ Additional Information

Word Formation: The word 'Stängel' is likely a diminutive form of 'Stange' (pole, rod), describing its slender, upright shape. The '-el' suffix is a typical diminutive ending in German.

Plural Formation: Note that the plural of 'Stängel' is also 'Stängel'. Only the dative plural adds an '-n': "mit den Stängeln" (with the stems).

Spelling: The Duden-recommended spelling is 'Stängel' with an 'ä'. The variant 'Stengel' with an 'e' is also used but considered less correct.