der  Stock

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ʃtɔk/

🪵 What Does "der Stock" Mean? More Than Just Wood!

The word der Stock is a versatile German noun with several meanings:

• 🚶 Stick, Cane, Pole: An elongated object, often made of wood, used as support when walking (Gehstock - walking stick/cane, Wanderstock - hiking stick) or for other purposes (e.g., Taktstock - conductor's baton, Skistock - ski pole).
• 🏢 Floor, Storey: A level in a building (e.g., erster Stock - first floor [US: second floor], zweiter Stock - second floor [US: third floor]). Synonymous with die Etage or das Geschoss.
• <0xF0><0x9F><0x90><0x9D> Beehive: The dwelling of a bee colony (Bienenstock).
• 🌳 Trunk, Stump, Block: A (usually thick) block or stump, e.g., a Hackstock (chopping block). This meaning is less common in everyday language.

🚨 Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning!

🧐 Grammar of "der Stock" in Detail

"Stock" is a masculine noun and takes the article der. It belongs to the strong declension group.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

The plural of "Stock" is die Stöcke (for the meaning stick/cane) or die Stockwerke (for the meaning floor/storey - the compound word is often used here). For Bienenstock (beehive), the plural is usually die Stöcke. For block/stump, it's also die Stöcke.

💡 Example Sentences

1. Meaning stick/cane: Der alte Mann stützt sich auf seinen Stock.
   (The old man leans on his cane.)
2. Meaning stick/cane: Die Kinder sammelten Stöcke im Wald.
   (The children collected sticks in the forest.)
3. Meaning floor/storey: Wir wohnen im dritten Stock.
   (We live on the third floor. [US: fourth floor])
4. Meaning floor/storey: Das Bürogebäude hat zehn Stockwerke (oder Stöcke).
   (The office building has ten floors/storeys.)
5. Meaning beehive: Der Imker kümmert sich um seine Bienenstöcke.
   (The beekeeper takes care of his beehives.)

💬 How to Use "der Stock"?

• Gehstock/Stab (Stick/Cane): Often used in the context of hiking, old age, injuries, or as a tool (e.g., Dirigentenstock - conductor's baton). The plural here is Stöcke.
• Stockwerk (Floor/Storey): Used for addresses, describing buildings, or the location of apartments/offices. Die Etage is often used synonymously, though Stock is more common in spoken language, especially in Southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The plural is usually Stockwerke, but Stöcke is also possible (e.g., "ein Haus mit drei Stöcken" - a house with three floors). ⚠️ Note the difference in floor numbering between German/British English and American English (German Erdgeschoss = ground floor/first floor).
• Bienenstock (Beehive): Technical term in beekeeping. Plural Stöcke.
• Idiom: The phrase "über Stock und Stein" (literally: over stick and stone) means cross-country, over rough terrain, or regardless of obstacles.
• Compound Words: Very common in compounds like Stockwerk (storey), Dachstock (attic floor/structure), Gehstock (walking stick), Wanderstock (hiking pole), Skistock (ski pole), Taktstock (baton), Bienenstock (beehive), Wurzelstock (rootstock).

⚠️ Don't confuse der Stock (floor, stick) with the English word "stock" (inventory, shares). Although related etymologically, the primary meanings in German differ.

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Stock"

Article Mnemonic: Think of a sturdy, masculine image: Der strong man needs der Stock (the stick) to hike up der tall building (represented by Stock as floor).

Meaning Mnemonic: A Stock helps you get higher: either a walking stock (stick) helps you climb a hill, or a Stock (floor) is a higher level in a building. Even bees live 'up' in their Bienenstock (beehive).

🔄 Similar and Opposite Words

Similar but Different Words

• Die Aktie: Financial term (share, stock). Unrelated to der Stock.
• Das Besteck: Cutlery, silverware. Sounds vaguely similar but completely different meaning.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Lehrer: "Wer kann mir ein Gebäude mit nur einem Stock nennen?"
Meldet sich Fritzchen: "Ein Iglu, Herr Lehrer!"

Teacher asks: "Who can name a building with only one floor (Stock)?"
Little Fritz answers: "An igloo, teacher!"

📜 Poem about the Stock

Der Stock, ein starker, treuer Freund,
Hilft, wenn der Weg beschwerlich scheint.
Er stützt den Schritt, gibt sicheren Halt,
Begleitet dich durch Wald und Kalt'.

Im Haus erhebt sich Stock um Stock,
Ein jedes birgt sein eig'nes G'lück.
Vom Keller bis zum Dache hin,
Hat jeder Stock Bedeutung, Sinn.

The stock (stick), a strong and loyal friend,
Helps when the path seems hard to wend.
It supports the step, gives steady hold,
Accompanies you through forest cold.

In houses rise up floor by floor (Stock by Stock),
Each holding its own fortune's door.
From cellar deep to roof so high,
Each floor (Stock) has meaning, by and by.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich helfe dir beim Wandern geh'n,
Kann aber auch in Häusern steh'n.
Mal bin ich Stütze, mal Etage hoch,
Manchmal wohnen Bienen in meinem Loch.

Was bin ich? ... Der Stock

I help you when you go hiking,
But can also stand inside a building.
Sometimes I'm a support, sometimes a storey high,
Sometimes bees live in my hollow nigh.

What am I?
... Der Stock (stick/floor/beehive)

💡 Other Information

• Etymology: The word "Stock" derives from Old High German "stoc", which originally meant tree stump or block. From this, the meanings "stick" (cut from a branch) and "floor/storey" (perhaps originally referring to the support beams of a level) developed.
• Idioms: Besides "über Stock und Stein" (cross-country), there's also "stocksteif" (stiff as a board) or "stockdunkel" (pitch dark).
• Compounds: Its ability to form compound words is very strong: Stockbett (bunk bed), Stockfisch (stockfish), Stockrose (hollyhock), Stockschirm (standard umbrella, lit. stick-umbrella), Stockschlag (blow with a stick), Stockwerk (storey) etc.