der
Streich
🤔 What Exactly is a 'Streich'?
The German word der Streich (noun, masculine) primarily has two meanings:
- 1. Prank, practical joke, trick, mischief: An action, often playful or mischievous, intended to annoy, deceive, or make someone laugh. Example: Die Kinder spielten ihrem Lehrer einen lustigen Streich. (The children played a funny prank on their teacher.)
- 2. Stroke, blow, swipe: A single, often forceful movement or hit, for example, with the hand or a tool. This meaning is somewhat archaic or used in specific idioms. Example: Mit einem Streich fällte er den Baum. (He felled the tree with one stroke.)
⚠️ Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning!
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ich → mostly masculine.
🧐 Grammar: 'Der Streich' in Detail
Der Streich is a masculine noun. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Streich |
| Genitive | des | Streich(e)s |
| Dative | dem | Streich(e) |
| Accusative | den | Streich |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Streiche |
| Genitive | der | Streiche |
| Dative | den | Streichen |
| Accusative | die | Streiche |
Example Sentences
- Max und Moritz sind bekannt für ihre bösen Streiche.
(Max and Moritz are known for their wicked pranks.) - Das war kein Versehen, das war ein absichtlicher Streich!
(That was no accident, that was a deliberate prank!) - Er erledigte die Aufgabe auf einen Streich.
(He completed the task in one go / at one stroke.) - Ein gut geplanter Streich kann sehr lustig sein, solange niemand verletzt wird.
(A well-planned prank can be very funny, as long as nobody gets hurt.)
💡 How to Use 'der Streich'
- Jemandem einen Streich spielen: (Literally: 'to play someone a prank') This is the most common phrase for the meaning "prank" or "practical joke". Example: Wir haben ihm zum Geburtstag einen harmlosen Streich gespielt. (We played a harmless prank on him for his birthday.)
- Auf einen Streich: (Literally: 'on one stroke') This idiom means "in one go," "with a single action," or "simultaneously." It relates more to the meaning "stroke" or "action." Example: Sie kaufte Brot, Milch und Butter auf einen Streich. (She bought bread, milk, and butter all in one go.)
- Ein dummer Streich / Dummejungenstreich: (A silly prank / silly boy's prank) Refers to a childish, ill-considered, or pointless prank.
- Ein böser Streich: (A mean/nasty prank) Emphasizes the negative, harmful intent behind the prank.
- Geniestreich: (Stroke of genius) Refers to a brilliant, ingenious idea or action (positive).
Compared to Witz (joke), a Streich implies an action, not just something said. A Schlag (hit, blow) is more specific to the physical action, while Streich in this sense is often more metaphorical or part of a fixed phrase.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Streich'
For the article: Think of DER Devil playing a Streich (prank). Mischievous figures are often associated with the masculine 'der' in informal memory tricks.
For the meaning: Imagine someone making a paint stroke (like a Streich) on a canvas, but then using the same brush to secretly play a prank (ein Streich) on a friend by dabbing paint on their nose. One word, two related images of action!
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Streich
Synonyms
- For "prank/joke":
- For "stroke/blow":
Antonyms
- For "prank/joke":
- der Ernst / die Ernsthaftigkeit (seriousness)
- die Wohltat (kind deed, benefit)
- die Freundlichkeit (friendliness, kindness)
- For "stroke/blow":
- die Liebkosung (caress)
- die Sanftheit (gentleness)
- die Zärtlichkeit (tenderness)
⚠️ Similar Words
- Streichen (verb): The action of stroking, painting, touching, or deleting. Der Streich is the corresponding noun.
- Strich (der): A line or dash. Don't confuse them, although they sound similar.
😂 A Little Prank to Laugh About
Warum nehmen Skelette niemandem einen Streich übel?
Weil sie kein böses Blut haben! 😉
Why don't skeletons mind if you play a prank on them?
Because they have no hard feelings (literally: 'no bad blood')! 😉
📜 Poem about a 'Streich'
Ein kleiner Schlingel, keck und dreist,
plant einen neuen, tollen Streich.
Die Zahnpasta im Keks versteckt,
hat Vaters Miene schnell geweckt.
Erst Schreck, dann Lachen, laut und hell,
so ein Streich wirkt manchmal schnell!
A little rascal, bold and bright,
Plans a new prank, with all his might.
Toothpaste hidden in a cookie bite,
Made Father's face a funny sight.
First shock, then laughter, loud and fast,
Sometimes a prank's effect can last!
❓ Riddle Time
Ich kann ein Jux sein, laut und bunt,
manchmal auch ein Schlag zur Stund'.
Mal bring ich Leute sehr zum Lachen,
mal tu ich böse, schlimme Sachen.
Was bin ich wohl, mal lieb, mal keck?
Sag's schnell, sonst spiel ich dir Versteck!
I can be fun, a colorful jest,
Sometimes a blow, put to the test.
I might make people laugh out loud,
Or do bad things within the crowd.
What am I, sometimes kind, sometimes a pain?
Say quickly, or I'll hide again!
Solution: der Streich (the prank/stroke)
🤓 More about 'der Streich'
- Etymology: The word "Streich" comes from the verb "streichen" (Middle High German strīchen), which originally meant "to roam," "to move quickly," or "to deliver a blow." The meaning "prank" likely developed from the idea of a swift, surprising action.
- Famous Pranks: The stories of "Max und Moritz" by Wilhelm Busch are famous for their detailed descriptions of seven mischievous pranks (böse Streiche).
- Compound Words: There are many compound words in German, such as Dummejungenstreich (silly boy's prank), Geniestreich (stroke of genius), Husarenstreich (daring deed, hussar's exploit), Schelmenstreich (rascal's prank).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Streich?
The word Streich is always masculine: der Streich. It means either a prank/practical joke (plural: die Streiche) or a stroke/blow (plural also die Streiche, but used less often).