der  Teich

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/taɪ̯ç/

💧 What does 'der Teich' mean?

Der Teich (noun, masculine) refers to a small body of standing water, either artificial or natural. Unlike a See (lake), a Teich is generally shallower and smaller.

• 🐠 Often, Teiche are created for fish farming (Fischteich) or as an ornamental feature in a garden (Gartenteich).
• 🦆 They can also be an important habitat for amphibians, insects, and waterfowl.
• ⚠️ Sometimes, a very small, perhaps muddy pool (Tümpel) might colloquially be called a 'Teich'.

Article rules for der, die, and das

✍️ Grammar of 'der Teich' in Detail

The word "Teich" is a masculine noun. Here is its declension:

Example Sentences

1. Im Park gibt es einen schönen Teich mit Enten. (There is a beautiful pond with ducks in the park.)
2. Der Frosch sprang in den kühlen Teich. (The frog jumped into the cool pond.)
3. Das Wasser des Teiches ist sehr klar. (The water of the pond is very clear.)
4. Wir füttern die Fische in dem Teich. (We feed the fish in the pond.)
5. Im Winter frieren viele Teiche zu. (In winter, many ponds freeze over.)

🏞️ When to use 'Teich'?

The term 'Teich' is used to describe smaller, often man-made bodies of water. Here are typical contexts:

• Gartenteich: A small pond as a decorative element in a garden.
• Fischteich: A pond specifically for breeding or keeping fish.
• Dorfteich: A central pond in a village, often historically used as a water reservoir or for firefighting.
• Feuerteich: A pond serving as a reserve for firefighting water.

Difference from 'See' (lake): A See is significantly larger and deeper than a Teich. The distinction isn't always sharp, but lakes often have thermal stratification, which ponds lack.

Difference from 'Tümpel' (pool/puddle): A Tümpel is usually even smaller, shallower, and often only temporarily filled with water or has lower water quality than a Teich.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Teich'

For the article 'der': Imagine a diver ('der diver') exploring the bottom of der Teich. 'Der' and 'diver' both have an 'er' sound.

For the meaning 'pond': "Teich" sounds a bit like the English word "tight". Imagine a small, tightly contained body of water – that's a Teich (pond).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Note: The distinction between Teich, Weiher, and Tümpel can be fluid and may vary regionally.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Fische kein Deo?
Why don't fish use deodorant?

Weil sie sonst aus dem Teich kippen!
Because otherwise, they'd tip out of the pond! (A play on words: 'umkippen' can mean 'to faint' or 'to tip over', and 'Kippen' are cigarette butts, which shouldn't be in a pond)

📜 A Poem about the Teich

Am kleinen Teich, so still und klar,
By the small pond, so still and clear,
Sitzt ein Frosch, wunderbar.
Sits a frog, wonderful to hear.
Die Seerose blüht, so fein,
The water lily blooms, so fine,
Libellen tanzen im Sonnenschein.
Dragonflies dance in the sunshine.
Ein kleines Paradies, der Teich,
A little paradise, the pond,
An Leben und an Farben reich.
Rich in life and colors fond.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin kleiner als ein See,
I am smaller than a lake,
manchmal wohnen Fische in mir, juche!
Sometimes fish live in me, hooray!
Im Garten bin ich oft zu finden,
In the garden, I am often found,
Enten auf mir ihre Runden winden.
Ducks swim their rounds on my ground.

Was bin ich? / What am I?
Antwort / Answer: Der Teich (The pond)

💡 Other Information about der Teich

Compound Words (Wortzusammensetzungen): The word 'Teich' forms part of many compound nouns:

• Gartenteich (garden pond)
• Fischteich (fish pond)
• Dorfteich (village pond)
• Ententeich (duck pond)
• Forellenteich (trout pond)
• Teichwirtschaft (pond farming/aquaculture)
• Teichrose (pond lily / water lily)

Etymology: The word 'Teich' comes from Middle High German 'tīch', which originally likely meant 'dam' or 'dammed water', related to 'Deich' (dike).