der  Strich

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ʃtʁɪç/

✍️ What Exactly is a "Strich"?

The word der Strich (noun, masculine) has several meanings in German:

• Line, Mark: The most common meaning is a drawn line or mark, e.g., with a pen, brush, or chalk. Example: einen geraden Strich ziehen (to draw a straight line).
• Dash (-): The punctuation mark used for pauses or parenthetical statements (der Gedankenstrich).
• Stroke (through), Cancellation: When something is crossed out (durchgestrichen), a line (Strich) is drawn through it. Example: Er machte einen Strich durch die Rechnung (idiomatically: he thwarted the plans).
• Brushstroke: In painting, it refers to the visible application of paint with a brush (der Pinselstrich).
• Colloquial/Taboo (🚨): Area of Prostitution: The expression "auf den Strich gehen" means to work as a prostitute. A Strich can also refer to the area where prostitution takes place (e.g., red-light district). This meaning is very informal and often has negative connotations.
• Tract of land: Less commonly, it can refer to a stretch or area of land, often in compound words (e.g., der Küstenstrich - coastal strip).

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

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "der Strich" in Detail

The noun Strich is masculine. Here is its declension:

Example Sentences:

1. Der Maler setzte gekonnt einen feinen Strich.
   (The painter skillfully applied a fine line/stroke.)
2. Mit einem dicken roten Strich markierte sie den Fehler.
   (She marked the mistake with a thick red line/stroke.)
3. Vergiss den Strich zwischen den beiden Wörtern nicht.
   (Don't forget the dash between the two words.)
4. Die Polizei kontrollierte den Strich häufiger. (🚨 Colloquial, Prostitution)
   (The police patrolled the area [known for prostitution] more often.)
5. Er hat einen Strich unter die Vergangenheit gezogen. (Idiom)
   (He drew a line under the past. / He put the past behind him.)

💡 How "Strich" is Used

• Everyday Life & Writing: When you draw lines, write, or cross something out, you use Strich. Example: "Mach bitte einen Strich auf die Liste." (Please put a mark/line on the list.)
• Art & Design: Pinselstrich (brushstroke) or simply Strich describes the technique in painting or drawing.
• Mathematics & Geometry: A line is often called a Strich, e.g., on a coordinate system.
• Typography: The dash (Gedankenstrich) or hyphen (Bindestrich - although technically different) is sometimes colloquially referred to as Strich.
• Colloquial Use (🚨 Caution): The meaning related to prostitution is widespread but very informal and potentially derogatory. Avoid it in formal contexts. Use requires sensitivity.
• Idioms: There are many fixed expressions like "jemandem einen Strich durch die Rechnung machen" (to thwart someone's plans), "einen Strich unter etwas ziehen" (to draw a line under sth., to conclude sth.), or "gegen den Strich gehen" (to go against the grain, to displease).

Compared to Linie, Strich is often shorter, more concrete, or refers to a single mark. A Linie can also be more abstract.

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Strich"

Article Mnemonic: Think of der Stift (the pen) or der Pinsel (the brush) you use to make a Strich (line/stroke). Both tools are masculine in German, just like der Strich.

Meaning Mnemonic: A Strich is like a short path: Sometimes it's a drawn path on paper 📏 (a line), sometimes a path for thought (a dash), sometimes unfortunately a forbidden path (*the street/area for prostitution* 🚶‍♀️).

🔄 Similar & Opposite: Synonyms and Antonyms

Potentially Confusing Words:

• Strichcode: Barcode. Consists of many lines (Striche), but refers to the entire pattern.
• Abstrich: Medical swab/smear. Has nothing to do with a line.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Mathematiker einen Bleistift mit zwei Radiergummis?
(Why does the mathematician have a pencil with two erasers?)

Damit er jeden Strich wieder rückgängig machen kann, egal aus welcher Richtung er kommt! 😉
(So he can undo every line, no matter which direction it comes from!) 😉

📜 A Rhyme About the "Strich"

Ein Strich, ganz kurz, ein Strich, ganz lang,
(A line, quite short, a line, quite long,)
beginnt oft einen neuen Strang.
(often starts a new strand/thread.)
Ob auf Papier, mit Tusch' und Kiel,
(Whether on paper, with ink and quill,)
zeigt er als Zeichen doch recht viel.
(it shows quite a lot as a sign/mark.)
Ein Strich durchkreuzt, was man gedacht,
(A line crosses out what one thought,)
hält fest, was man zu Wort gebracht.
(records what one put into words.)
Von Kunst bis Ziffer, klar und schlicht,
(From art to number, clear and simple,)
erscheint er mal als Schatten, mal als Licht.
(it sometimes appears as shadow, sometimes as light.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich kann gerade sein oder krumm,
(I can be straight or crooked,)
man zieht mich oft, doch bleib ich stumm.
(I'm often drawn, yet I remain silent.)
Ich trenne Worte, zier' die Kunst,
(I separate words, adorn art,)
manchmal bedeute ich auch schiefe Gunst.
(sometimes I also mean dubious favour [referring to prostitution].)

Was bin ich?
(What am I?)

(Solution: der Strich)

🧩 More About the Word

Word Compounds (Examples):

• Strichcode (Barcode)
• Pinselstrich (Brushstroke)
• Gedankenstrich (Dash)
• Doppelstrich (Double line / double bar in music)
• Querstrich (Slash, forward slash)
• Rotstrichviertel (Colloquial term for Red-light district)
• Küstenstrich (Coastal strip/region)

Trivia:

The German idiom "jemandem einen Strich durch die Rechnung machen" (lit. to draw a line through someone's calculation/bill) possibly originates from pubs or inns where tabs were kept using chalk marks (Striche) on a slate. An innkeeper could cross through (einen Strich machen) a customer's tally, for example, during a dispute, invalidating or altering the bill.