der  Streik

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ʃtʁaɪk/

✊ What exactly is a 'Streik'?

Der Streik (noun, masculine) refers to a collective work stoppage by employees to enforce certain demands (e.g., höhere Löhne - higher wages, bessere Arbeitsbedingungen - better working conditions) against the employer. It's a tool used in Arbeitskämpfe (labor disputes), often organized by Gewerkschaften (trade unions).

There is only this one article for the word: der Streik. There are no other meanings associated with different articles.

Note: The related verb is streiken (to strike).

📐 Grammar of 'der Streik'

The noun "Streik" is masculine. Here is its declension:

📝 Example Sentences

• Der Streik der Piloten legt den Flugverkehr lahm. (The pilots' strike is paralyzing air traffic.)
• Die Auswirkungen des Streiks sind enorm. (The effects of the strike are enormous.)
• Die Gewerkschaft rief zu dem Streik auf. (The union called for the strike.)
• Die Arbeitgeber wollen den Streik beenden. (The employers want to end the strike.)
• Wegen der vielen Streiks kommt es zu Verspätungen. (Due to the many strikes, there are delays.)

🗣️ How to use 'der Streik'?

"Der Streik" is used in the context of Arbeitskämpfe (labor disputes) and social conflicts. It describes the organized refusal to work.

• Typical Collocations: zum Streik aufrufen (to call for a strike), in den Streik treten (to go on strike), ein Streik bricht aus (a strike breaks out), den Streik beenden/beilegen (to end/settle a strike), unbefristeter Streik (indefinite strike), Warnstreik (warning strike), Generalstreik (general strike).
• Context: News reports, political discussions, union publications, labor law.
• Distinction: A Streik is a collective action. An individual refusal to work without a collective background is not a strike in the true sense. A Boykott (boycott) is usually directed against products or services, not primarily against the work itself.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

For the article 'der': Think of der Boss or der Protest – both are masculine German words often associated with the circumstances leading to a Streik.

For the meaning: Imagine workers drawing a thick line, a 'streak' (sounds a bit like Streik), through their work schedules – they are going on Streik!

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Potential for Confusion:

Don't confuse Streik with the verb streichen (to paint, to cancel, to stroke).

😄 A Little Joke

Warum streiken Bäcker nie lange?

Weil sie sonst keinen Teig mehr haben, um Forderungen aufzustellen!

(Why do bakers never strike for long? Because otherwise they wouldn't have any dough left to raise demands! - 'Teig' means dough, but sounds like having money/resources in some contexts).

📜 Poem about 'Streik'

Die Räder stehen still, kein Ton,
die Arbeit ruht, das ist der Lohn?
Nein, für die Rechte, klar und rein,
tritt man gemeinsam in den Streik hinein.
Die Forderung, sie hallt durchs Land,
mit Transparenten in der Hand.

(The wheels stand still, no sound is heard,
the work rests, is that the reward?
No, for the rights, clear and pure,
together they enter the strike for sure.
The demand, it echoes through the land,
with banners held in hand.)

🧩 Riddle

Ich lege Fabriken lahm und Züge still,
weil eine Gruppe mehr vom Kuchen will.
Organisiert und oft laut,
man hat mich schon oft angeschaut
in den Nachrichten, Jahr für Jahr.
Was bin ich wohl? Sag's, ist doch klar!

(I shut down factories and stop trains still,
because a group wants more of the cake, if they will.
Organized and often loud,
I've often been watched by the crowd
in the news, year after year.
What am I? Tell me, it's clear!)

Solution: Der Streik (the strike)

ℹ️ More Info

• Word Origin: The German word "Streik" was borrowed from the English word "strike" in the 19th century.
• Legal Aspects: The right to strike (Streikrecht) in Germany is protected by the Basic Law (Grundgesetz, Art. 9 Para. 3 GG - Freedom of Association), but it is not regulated in detail by statute. Case law plays a significant role.
• Types of Strikes: There are various forms, such as the Warnstreik (warning strike - short-term, during negotiations), the Urabstimmungsstreik (strike after a ballot among union members), the Generalstreik (general strike - across industries), or the (usually illegal in Germany) politischer Streik (political strike).